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Toys
Name of Product: "Chelsea's" Necklace and Bracelet Sets
Importer: D&D Distributing-Wholesale Inc., of Tacoma, Wash.
Hazard: Small parts can detach from the necklace and bracelet when the elastic string breaks, posing a choking hazard to young children. No incidents or injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves two models of "Chelsea's" Necklace and Bracelet Set. These two models are "Crayon" and the "Shiny Heart" Necklace and Bracelet Set. Both models have yellow, blue, red, green, purple and pink crayons or hearts connected by elastic string. Each set has one necklace and one bracelet.
Sold at: Retail stores and wholesalers nationwide from April 1999 through April
2009 for about $4.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled necklace and bracelet set away from children and contact D&D Distributing-Wholesale to exchange or refund the product.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact D&D Distributing-Wholesale toll-free at (800) 262-9435 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday. Consumers can also visit the firm's Web site at www.dddist.com. (6-19-09)
Name of Product: Outdoor Playset Gliders
Distributor: Backyard Play Systems LLC, of Monroe, Mich. They were manufactured in China.
Hazard: The retaining rings used to secure the gliders to the playset can become
loose or detached, posing a fall hazard to children.
Incidents/Injuries: Backyard Play Systems has received one report of a retaining ring falling off. No injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves outdoor playset gliders designed to hang from home play equipment. The green plastic gliders were sold as an accessory to home play equipment marketed under the brand names Heartland Premium Play Systems, Yardline Play Systems and Backyard Play Systems.
Sold by: Backyard Buildings and More and Lowe's stores nationwide and online at Costco.com, BettyMills.com and BackyardBuildings.com from February 2008 through May 2009 for about $100.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the gliders. Backyard Play Systems is notifying all customers directly and is providing a free repair kit, which includes replacement hardware and written instructions.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Backyard Play Systems toll free at (866) 890-2211 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Saturday (March through October). (6-09-09)
Name of Product: 13-foot Square Trampolines
Distributor: Skywalker Holdings LLC, of Brigham City, Utah. They were manufactured in China.
Hazard: The straps supporting the top of the trampoline's enclosure to the poles
can fail. The enclosure could drop if these straps break, posing a risk that a
user could fall from the trampoline.
Incidents/Injuries: Skywalker Holdings has received at least 250 reports of straps breaking. No injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves the Skywalker Holdings 13-foot Square Trampoline and Enclosure Combo. The unit has blue spring pads, a black net enclosure and a jumping mat. "Skywalker Holdings" is printed on a label located under the jumping mat and on the enclosure net.
Sold at: Specialty stores and major retailers nationwide and online from January 2007 through February 2009 for between $400 and $600.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the trampolines and contact Skywalker Holdings to obtain a free repair kit.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Skywalker Holdings toll-free at (866) 603-5867 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. MT Monday through Friday, or visit the company's Web site at www.skywalkertrampolines.com. (6-01-09)
Name of Product: Step2 Play Up Gym play sets
Manufacturer: The Step2 Company LLC, of Streetsboro, Ohio
Hazard: The triangular hangers that attach the swing's ropes to the upper rail of the play set can break, posing a fall hazard to children.
Incidents/Injuries: Step2 has received 17 reports of hangers breaking. No injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves Step2 Play Up Gym play sets. The recalled outdoor
play sets include a platform, climber, slide area and two swings and have a model
number of 797300. A red "Step2" logo plate is attached to the front of the play
set. Play sets that have hangers with white plastic bushings are not subject to
this recall.
Sold at: Toys"R"Us stores nationwide from January 2009 through April 2009 for about $400.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled play sets and contact
Step2 to receive a set of replacement hangers and instructions.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Step2 at (800) 347-8372 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.step2.com. (6-01-09)
Name of Product: Folding Toy Beach Chair for Stuffed Animals
Importer: Build-A-Bear Workshop, of St. Louis, Mo. They were manufactured in China.
Hazard: The toy chair legs can bruise, pinch or cut fingers if caught while folding. No incidents or injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves a wood frame, canvas seat, toy beach chair
for stuffed animals. Some styles include an attached pillow. The toy chairs are
blue (style #s 002281, 004463, 009907, 011565, 102281, 109907, 111565); red (style
#s 007391, 011566, 107391, 111566); fuchsia/white stripe (style #s 013226, 113226);
orange/white stripe (style #s 013227, 113227).
Sold by: Build-A-Bear Workshop stores nationwide and online at www.buildabear.com from March 2001 through October 2008 for about $8 in the United States and from March 2003 through October 2008 for about $10 in Canada.
Remedy: Return the toy beach chair to any Build-A-Bear Workshop store to receive
an $8 USD/$10 CDN store coupon. If it is not possible to return the toy chair
to a store, you can contact the company for alternate instructions on receiving
a refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact the Build-A-Bear Workshop toll-free at (866) 236-5683 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT, Saturday 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT, or visit the company's Web site at www.buildabear.com. (5-15-09)
Name of product: Abalone and Venetian Carnevale Necklace Craft Kits
Importer: Action Products International Inc., of Ocala, Fla. They were manufactured in China.
Hazard: The lobster clasps in both craft kits contain high levels of lead. The Abalone Necklace's pendant also contains high levels of lead. Lead can be toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects. No incidents or injuries have been reported.
Description: The recall includes the children's jewelry craft kits "Abalone Necklace"
(item #67117) and "Venetian Carnevale Necklace" (item #67118). Both kits contain
components to assemble necklaces including charms, beads, wire and clasps. The
kit's name, model number and "Curiosity Kits" are printed on the product's packaging.
Sold at: Various retailers in the United States and Canada from June 2007 through April 2009 for about $6.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled children's craft necklaces away from children and contact Action Products International to arrange for the necklace's return and to receive a free replacement. Shipping will be free for consumer returns.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Action Products International at (800) 772-2846 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, or visit the firm's Web site at www.APII.com. (5-08-09)
Name of Product: Dinosaur Play Sets
Importer: DND Imports, of Los Angeles, Calif. They were manufactured in China.
Hazard: The surface paint on the monkey figure contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. No incidents or injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves the "Dinosaur Era 2 Hunting Dinosaur" play
set. Each play set contains a dinosaur, a helicopter, trees, a hunter, a
monkey and various hunting equipment.
Sold at: DND Trading in Los Angeles throughout December 2008 for about $7.
Remedy: Consumers should discard the monkey figure immediately to remove the hazard and contact the firm for a refund or exchange.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, call DND Imports collect at (818) 815-1791 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday. (5-01-09)
Product Involved: Playground Equipment
Distributor: SportsPlay Equipment Inc., of St. Louis, Mo. They were manufactured in Turkey.
Hazard: The handrails and posts on the playground contain high levels of lead paint. Lead can be toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects. No incidents or injuries have been reported.
Description: The recall involves the Tot Town Fun Center, Tot Town Castle Fun Center, Tea Cup Merry Go Round, 8- Web Climber, Rope Wall, Four Panel Circular Aztec Climber and Three Panel Aztec Climber. For a complete list of model numbers, click here.
Sold by: Authorized SportsPlay dealers nationwide from January 2003 through December 2007 for between $1,300 and $5,500.
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the playground immediately if the painted parts have chipped off. Consumers with the recalled playgrounds have been directly contacted regarding this recall and will receive free replacement parts.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact SportsPlay at (800) 727-8180 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.sportsplayinc.com. (4-24-09)
Name of Product: Shape-O Toy Maracas
Importer: Tupperware U.S. Inc., of Orlando, Fla. They were manufactured in China.
Hazard: The maracas can break and expose small parts, posing a choking hazard
to young children. In addition, the handle poses a suffocation hazard to young
children.
Incidents/Injuries: Tupperware has received two reports of maracas breaking. No injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves blue and red toy maracas with yellow handles. The maracas were used by Tupperware representatives during sales presentations. Cut-outs in the shape of stars, squares and other geometric figures are located inside the maraca.
Sold by: Tupperware's Holiday 2007 and Spring 2008 product catalogs from September 2007 through April 2008 for between $5.50 and $11.
Remedy: Consumers and Tupperware sales consultants should immediately stop using the maracas and return them to Tupperware for a refund or gift certificate. Maraca return forms can be accessed at www.tupperware.com.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Tupperware at (888) 887-9273 between 8:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.tupperware.com. (4-17-09)
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced that Mega Brands
America Inc., of Livingston, N.J., formerly Rose Art Industries Inc., has agreed
to pay a $1.1 million civil penalty. The penalty, which the commission has provisionally
accepted, settles allegations that Mega Brands America and Rose Art failed to
provide the government with timely information about dangers to children with
Magnetix magnetic building sets, as required under federal law.
In December of 2005, Rose Art filed an initial report with CPSC that a 22-month-old child from Washington state had died, due to ingesting multiple magnets that fell out of pieces from a Magnetix set. The report contained no other product or incident information and Rose Art attributed the magnets falling out to unusually abusive play by the toddler's older siblings. On February 1, 2006, Rose Art submitted a Full Report, which again lacked incident and product information. Rose Art stated that it did not retain any complaint or incident records. On March 31, 2006, Rose Art voluntarily recalled nearly four million Magnetix sets for users under the age of 6.
After discovering documents that led CPSC staff to believe Rose Art had compiled
incident information, a subpoena was issued to the firm (which had been renamed
Mega Brands America and was under new ownership and control) to obtain product
and incident information. CPSC learned through the subpoena that at the time Rose
Art filed its initial report in December 2005, it had received over 1,100 consumer
complaints that magnets had fallen out of plastic pieces from dozens of different
Magnetix models. Additionally, the subpoena revealed that Rose Art had received
at least one report of an injury due to magnet ingestion, prior to the toddler's
death in Washington state.
By the time Rose Art agreed to the recall of Magnetix in March 2006, the firm had received more than 1,500 complaints of magnets falling out of plastic pieces in more than 65 different models of Magnetix. In April 2007, Mega Brands America expanded the recall of Magnetix sets for users of any age, after more than 25 children suffered intestinal injuries that required surgery to remove the magnets.
Federal law requires firms to report to CPSC immediately (within 24 hours) after
obtaining information reasonably supporting the conclusion that a product contains
a defect that could create a substantial product hazard, creates an unreasonable
risk of serious injury or death, or violates any consumer product safety rule,
or any other rule, regulation, standard or ban enforced by CPSC.
In agreeing to settle this matter, Mega Brands America and its parent, Mega Brands Inc., of Montreal, Canada, contend that 1) Mega Brands Inc. did not know of the Magnetix defect at the time it acquired Rose Art and 2) Rose Art's prior owners never advised Mega Brands Inc. of the problems associated with Magnetix.
CPSC strongly encourages consumers to check to see if they have any of the recalled building sets and return them to Mega Brands for a free replacement toy – potentially millions of recalled units remain in homes today and accessible to young children. (4-17-09)
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