Health Alerts - March 2004

Mr. Christmas Inc., of New York, is recalling 2,300 Christmas candleholders because they do not allow for the safe burning of a candle, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

No incidents have been reported.

The candleholders were sold in many shapes and sizes and portray the following figures and model numbers: Snowman (79911), Scarecrow (79914), Santa (79917), Swan (79912), Angel (79913), Rose (79915), Girl (79918) and Kneeling Angel (79916).

The holiday candleholders were sold at gift stores nationwide between November and December 2003 for about $12.50.

Consumers should stop using the candleholders immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, call Mr. Christmas Inc. at (800) 467-9627.

Avon Products Inc., of New York, is recalling 56,000 Jack-in-the-box toys because a spring mechanism attached to the lid can break and detach from the toy, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Avon has received one report of the spring mechanism detaching from the toy. No injuries have been reported.

Manufactured by The Learning Journey International L.L.C., of Phoenix, the battery-operated toy has two yellow sides, two red sides and a blue top and bottom. “The Learning Journey” is printed on the bottom, and the model number printed on the bottom of the packaging is F483361.

The toys were sold by independent Avon sales representatives and on the Avon Web site from August through November 2003 for about $13.

Consumers should take the toy away from children immediately, and call Avon at (800) 445-AVON for instructions on how to remove the spring mechanism.

• Wal-Mart, of Bentonville, Ark., is expanding a previous candle recall and recalling 10,085 “Painted Snowman” candle gift sets because the paint on the outside of the candles potentially could sustain a flame, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

No injuries or incidents have been reported.

The “Painted Snowman” gift set includes three candles, a display plate, pine sprigs and golden berries. Its model number is CAD2525193, and its UPC number is 069302970040. Three similar Home Trend Ice Holiday Collection Candle gift sets previously were recalled.

The candle gift sets were sold at Wal-Mart stores nationwide from September through December 2003 for about $10.

Consumers should stop using the candle sets immediately and return them to Wal-Mart for a refund. For more information, call Wal-Mart at (800) 925-6278.

• Lang Candles, of Delafield, Wis., is recalling 92,000 candles because the resin in the candleholder can ignite, posing a burn and fire hazard to consumers.

Lang Candles has received nine reports of the candles igniting, resulting in six reports of property damage. No injuries have been reported.

The multicolored candles came in 57 models and themes, including a birdhouse, watering can, flowerpot and Halloween and Christmas designs.

The candles, 1½ to 4 inches in height and 2½ to 3 inches in width, featured various fragrances.

They were sold in small craft and candle stores from September 2001 through May 2003 for $9 to $13.

Consumers should stop using the candles and contact Lang Candles toll-free at (888) 526-4011 to receive a refund.

Susan Bristol Inc., of Boston, is recalling 1,100 Christmas sweaters because their marabou feather trim is flammable.

No incidents or injuries have been reported.

The sweaters are black and come in two styles: a pullover with marabou feather trim at the neckline and cuffs, and a mohair-lined cardigan with embroidery and marabou trim at the neckline and cuffs. “Susan Bristol LTD” is printed on the collar tag. The RN (registered identification number) is 43189 (CA05633), shown on a tag in the right side seam of the sweaters.

The sweaters were sold in clothing stores and small boutiques nationwide from November 2002 through January 2003 for $44 to $74.

Consumers should contact Susan Bristol Inc. at (800) 537-4309 for information on returning the sweaters for store credit or a replacement of the trim.

• Safeline Kids Inc., of Bluffdale, Utah, is recalling 10,495 Sit’N’Stroll Model 2003 car seats because they fail to meet child safety requirements and pose the threat of head injury to child occupants.

No injuries have been reported.

The shoulder and buckle pads in the restraints may interfere with the harness becoming properly snug, which means that a crash could cause the child’s head to move forward farther than allowed by federal motor vehicle safety standards.

Consumers should call Safeline Kids at (800) 829-1625 for repair instructions and a revised owner’s manual. Owners must remove and discard the shoulder and buckle pads from the harness before continuing to use the seat.

• Dorel Juvenile Group has recalled 27,800 Dorel High Rise child car restraints because incorrect instructions on an attached label pose a threat of serious injury to children.

The restraints have model numbers 22-297-WAL, 22-298-STM, 22-299-NAN and 93-299-FSM. The misprinted labels say that children “under 1 year of age,” as opposed to the correct instructions “over 1 year of age,” should use the restraints in the forward-facing mode.

If a consumer were to follow the incorrect instructions, the seat may not adequately restrain the child in the event of a crash.

Consumers should contact Dorel immediately at (812) 372-0141 to receive a corrected label.

• Graco Children’s Products Inc., of Exton, Pa., is recalling 398,000 bumble bee toys because they have blue antennae that can break, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Graco has received 26 reports of the antennae breaking off, including five reports of children who began to choke on the broken antenna. One child’s throat was scratched when the child’s mother removed the broken antenna from the child’s mouth.

The bumble bee toys are sold with certain Graco high chairs and Graco mobile entertainers. They also are sold separately as an accessory and replacement part. Bumble bee toys with yellow or black antennae are not affected.

Discount, department and juvenile product stores sold the toys from October 2001 through March 2003. They were sold with high chairs and mobile entertainers for between $39 and $89, and individually, as accessories or replacement parts, for $5.

Discard any bumble bee toys with blue antennae immediately and contact Graco at (800) 258-3213 to receive a free replacement.

• Kindermusik International, of Browns Summit, N.C., is recalling about 430 “Lily Pad Clacker” Instruments because the green coating on the instrument contains a high level of lead, posing a risk of poisoning to children.

No injuries have been reported.

The clacker is a wooden rhythm instrument designed for use with the Frog Went A-Dancing kit. It is 511/44 inches long and has two green “lily pads” that are connected to the base by a string.

The kits were sold by consultants in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia and Texas from October through December 2003 for about $30 each.

Stop using the clackers immediately and return them to Kindermusik International in the postage-paid box provided by the firm. Kindermusik will replace the product with another of comparable value. For more information, call Kindermusik at (800) 628-5687 or visit its Web site at www.drmy.com.

• K’NEX Industries Inc., of Hatfield, Pa., is recalling about 14,000 “Mud Boggers” and “Street Shredders” pump up racers because the air motor in the toy cars can burst while being pumped up, and parts of the toy can break off, posing a risk of eye or laceration injuries.

K’NEX has received two reports of bursting air motors. No injuries have been reported.

The “Mud Bugger” has a yellow car body, and the “Street Shredder” has a red car body. Both models have a date code beginning with 7803 located on the bottom of the air motor, directly under the name K’NEX Industries Inc. The toy cars come with a pump attachment that helps project the car forward.

The cars were sold at Toys R Us, Wal-Mart and Target stores nationwide between November and December 2003 for about $10.

Consumers should stop children from using these toy cars immediately and contact K’NEX Industries at (800) 543-5639 for a free replacement air motor or an alternative product.

Sassi America Inc., of Elk Grove Village, Ill., is recalling about 72,000 bottles of acrylic primer used to prepare fingernails before applying artificial nails because it is not packaged in child-resistant packaging, as required by the Poison Prevention Packing Act.

Sassi America received a report of a 2-year-old girl who sustained severe external and internal chemical burns after swallowing the liquid primer.

The primer is packaged in amber-colored bottles with black caps. The model number 508, 509, 510, 511 or 512 is printed on the front of the label.

The acrylic primers were sold separately and in kits at grocery and beauty supply stores nationwide from June 2000 through January 2004 for $2 to $10.

Stop using the primer immediately, and keep it out of reach of young children. The acrylic primer and kits can be returned to the store where purchased for a refund. Call Sassi at (847) 228-0334 for more information.

Curiosity Kits Inc., of Hunt Valley, Md., is recalling about 150 Discovery Kids Imaginative Arts Pottery Wheel Kits because the brown clay contained in the kit could contain excess levels of bacteria, posing a risk of illness to users.

No injuries or incidents have been reported.

The pottery wheel kits have SKU #690974 printed on the white UPC label attached to the back lower right-hand corner of the box.

The kits were sold in Discovery Channel stores and catalogs, and on http://shopping.discovery.com in October 2003 for about $40.

Consumers should stop using the pottery wheel kits immediately and return them to any Discovery Channel store to receive a full refund or credit, or a replacement Pottery Wheel Kit and a $5 Discovery Channel store gift certificate. For more information, contact Discovery Channel stores at (800) 373-7706.