Pay 'N Save Recalls Hazardous Toys

WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Pay 'n Save Stores, Inc., of Seattle, Washington has announced the recall of two baby rattles and four toddler toys because they violate CPSC safety requirements and present choking hazards. No injuries have been reported, and Pay 'n Save has already removed the toys from its stores.

The toys being recalled are: two models of Play Mates baby rattles, both designated as Item No. 203719; the Centipede Pull Along toy, Item No. TA-1670; the See-Thru Wheel Cart, Item 332; the Happy Duck Pull Toy, L Model TM-861; and the Hammer Car, Item 160393.

Neither the CPSC nor Pay n’ Save has received any reports of injuries or deaths involving the See-Thru Wheel Cart, Happy Duck pull toy or the Hammer Car.

Pay 'n Save and the Consumer Product Safety Commission urge consumers who have these toys to take them away from children immediately and discard them or return them to a Pay 'n Save store for a refund of the purchase price. Pay 'n Save stores are located in the states of Washington, Idaho, California, Alaska, and Hawaii. Consumers in Montana and Wyoming who wish a refund should contact Pay 'n Save at the number listed in the last paragraph of this release.

One of the rattles being recalled consists of five egg-shaped plastic balls and a white plastic handle on a string. Each ball is two colors, and the colors are various combinations of white, red, yellow, green and blue. The balls on the string are small enough to enter a child's mouth and block the throat causing choking.

In addition when the CPSC subjected the rattle to use and abuse testing, some of the balls broke liberating small plastic pellets which also could be a choking or aspiration hazard. The handle has "MADE IN TAIWAN" embossed on it.

The other rattle has a white plastic U-shaped handle with three yellow, orange and blue beads on a rod held between the two ends of the U. The beads and rod separated from the handle when the CPSC subjected this rattle to use and abuse testing. The beads, which are approximately 1 1/8 inches in diameter and 1/2 inch thick, are a choking hazard. A gold stick-on label on the handle says "MADE IN TAIWAN".

The packages of both rattles have identical labeling including the same item number. The labeling states, "PLAY MATES BABY TOY NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 3 YEARS OF AGE SAFE NON-TOXIC ITEM NO: 203719 MADE IN TAIWAN". Although the packages are labeled "NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 3 YEARS OF AGE", the CPSC staff believes these products clearly are rattles intended for babies.

Approximately 3,400 of each type of rattle have been distributed since June 5, 1986. Each type of rattle sold for $.49.

One incident has been reported in which the balls on the string broke, and a 7 month old child put a plastic pellet from the ball in his mouth. The child was not injured.

The Centipede Pull Along toy is approximately 14 1/2 inches long and has a yellow head and five orange and green spherical shaped body segments. Each segment has two yellow legs and two green wheels. If the toy is dropped the wheels may break off. The orange spherical tail can be pulled off.

Both the wheels and the tail are small parts and present a choking hazard. The box for this toy is labeled, "centipede PULL ALONG safe-n- fun ITEM NO. TA-1670". Between September 10, 1986 and February 19, 1987, approximately 5,700 of the Centipede toys were sold for $2.49.

A consumer reported that her child put a wheel from the Centipede toy in her mouth, but the child was not injured.

The See-Thru Wheel Cart is a pull toy consisting of a ferris wheel on a wagon. The ferris wheel is made of translucent green plastic and has five translucent plastic balls continuing beads attached to it. The wagon is red with four blue wheels. The toy is 6 1/2 inches long and 6 1/4 inches high.

If the toy is dropped the balls may detach from the ferris wheel and break open releasing the beads which are small parts. Pieces of the ferris wheel, which are small parts, may also break off. The box is labeled "See-thru Wheel cart No.1 332 Made in Hong Kong", Between October 11, 1986, and February 19, 1987, approximately 4,600 of these toys were sold for $1.45.

The Happy Duck plastic pull toy consists of a mother duck and three baby ducks attached to one another. The toy is 14 inches long. Two ducks are yellow, and two are orange. Each duck has two orange wheels and two bright pink wings which turn when the toy is pulled. The wings may break off if the toy is dropped, and the wheels can be pulled off easily.

Both the wings and wheels are small parts which present a choking hazard. The box is labeled "Happy Duck 1 1/2-4 Years O Pull-A-Long O Fun and Safety TM-861 MADE IN TAIWAN". Approximately 7,100 of these toys were sold between June 15, 1986 and February 19, 1987 for $2.79.

The Hammer Car is a yellow plastic wagon approximately 10 1/2 inches long with red wheels. A string approximately 28 inches long is tied at one end to the wagon and at the other end to a red plastic hammer. The hammer can be used to pound eight plastic blocks of various colors and shapes through eight holes of the same shapes in the wagon. Four of the blocks are small parts and can present a choking hazard. The box is labeled, "HAMMER CAR 1 1/2-4 years ITEM NO: 160393 MADE IN TAIWAN".

Approximately 12,250 of these toys were sold between April 30, 1986 and February 19, 1987 for $1.98.

For more information on this recall Consumers may call Pay 'n Save Stores at 206-938-6470 or the CPSC toll-free hotline number at 800-638-CPSC. A teletypewriter number for the hearing impaired is (301) 595-7054.

Pay 'n Save and the Consumer Product Safety Commission urge consumers who have these toys to take them away from children immediately and discard them or return them to a Pay 'n Save store for a refund of the purchase price.

One incident has been reported in which the balls on the string broke, and a 7 month old child put a plastic pellet from the ball in his mouth. The child was not injured.