Health Alerts - March 2000

In the wake of a second suspected death from Pokémon balls, Burger King Corp., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is reminding consumers to discard Pokémon balls distributed with Burger King kids’ meals because they can cause young children to suffocate.

Pokémon balls are plastic containers that hold Pokémon toys in Burger King kids’ meals. Either half of the ball can become stuck on a child’s face, covering the nose and mouth.

Since December, two children reportedly suffocated in this manner.

The plastic ball-shaped containers are between 2¾ and 3 inches in diameter, and pull apart to reveal one of 57 Pokémon toys. Burger King restaurants nationwide distributed the items from early November through December 1999.

Consumers can continue to use the Pokémon toy that came inside the ball.

For information on the recall, in either English or Spanish, call (800) 775-0625.

Nordstrom Inc., of Seattle, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 5,300 infants’ and girls’ sweatshirts because the zipper pulls can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Nordstrom received one report of an infant who choked on the zipper pull, but suffered no permanent injuries.

The cotton-polyester, half-zippered sweatshirts are long-sleeved with a heart-shaped zipper pull. Available in pink or blue, the sweatshirts were sold in infant size 6 months through big girl size 16, with collar labels that read: “Baby N” or “N Kids.”

Nordstrom stores nationwide sold these sweatshirts in December 1999 for $22 to $28.

Children should stop wearing these sweatshirts, which can be returned for a refund. For more information, call Nordstrom at (800) 695-8000.

The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., of Shelburne, Vt., and Zany Brainy Inc., of King of Prussia, Pa., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, are recalling about 15,500 miniature skateboard keychains attached to Z.Z. Jamboarder teddy bears because the skateboards’ wheels can come off, posing a choking hazard to young children.

The firms received two reports of detached wheels, but no injuries have been reported.

The skateboard keychain is about 3¾ inches long with red wheels. Z.Z. Jamboarder is a light brown teddy bear, about 15 inches long, wearing a white shirt, jeans, a purple hat and sunglasses. The shirt and skateboard have matching emblems showing a bear head inside a red circle. The skateboard keychain is attached to a loop on the right side of the bear’s jeans. A sewn-in tag under the left arm of the bear reads “Z.Z. Jamboarder;” on the back, it reads “Limited Edition 1999.”

Zany Brainy sold the item nationwide through its stores, Web site and catalog from November through December 1999 for $10 to $13 with the purchase of $50 in other merchandise.

Consumers should take these skateboard keychains away from young children and return them to any Zany Brainy store to receive either a refund or a Zooolennium bean-filled plush baby animal toy. For more information, call any local Zany Brainy store or visit the Web site at www.zanybrainy.com. Consumers also can call the Vermont Teddy Bear Co. toll-free at (877) 293-2327.

L.L. Bean Inc., of Freeport, Maine, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 7,700 children’s overalls because the snaps can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

L.L. Bean has received six such reports, but no injuries were reported.

Two styles of overalls are recalled:

• The traditional blue denim overalls have a full-snap crotch, a pocket on the bib, two front pockets and two back pockets, along with a sewn-in label that reads “0DB48,” the size, “made in China,” and “100% cotton.” They were sold in sizes 6 months through 4T.

• The woodland overalls come in red, navy or green and are made of cotton twill lined with red-check flannel. They have a full-snap crotch, a front zipper, a small pocket on the left front, two pockets in the rear, and an applique of a bear and pine tree. The sewn-in label reads “0HS39,” the size, “made in China,” and “100% cotton.” They were sold in sizes 6 months through 3T.

L.L. Bean sold these overalls nationwide in its catalogs, on its Web site, and in L.L. Bean stores in Maine, New Hampshire, Delaware and Oregon from January through December 1999 for $20 to $26.

Consumers should return these overalls to L.L. Bean for a refund. For more information, call L.L. Bean at (800) 555-9717 or visit the Web site at www.llbean.com.

K2 Corp., of Vashon, Wash., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 12,000 FLIGHT ALX brand in-line skates because the plastic brake mount could crack and fail, causing skaters to fall and suffer serious injury.

There have been no incidents or injuries reported.

The recalled skates are the “FLIGHT ALX” brand with model number S00161 or S00162, manufactured before Nov. 20, 1999. The brand name and model number are on the skate’s tongue; the manufacturing date is stamped in the heel of the skate, on the footbed. That date is shown as the year, month and day (for example, 19991002 is Oct. 2, 1999).

Women’s skates are maroon and silver in sizes 4 through 11. Men’s skates are gray and orange in sizes 5 through 14.

Sporting goods stores nationwide sold the skates from August through November 1999 for about $200.

Consumers should stop using these skates and return them to the store where purchased for free replacement skates. For more information, call K2 Corp. at (800) 426-1617 or access its Web site at www.K2skates.com/flight_recall.htm.

On the advice of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), S.C. Johnson & Son Inc., of Racine, Wis., is recalling two products that may trigger asthma attacks, especially in children: AllerCare Dust Mite Powder and AllerCare Dust Mite Allergen Spray.

The EPA and Johnson have received 400 reports of adverse health reactions in humans and pets exposed to the products. Incidents range from severe to minor reactions, including asthma attacks, respiratory problems, burning sensations and skin irritations, usually within 15 to 30 minutes after use of the product.

Allergy and asthma sufferers appear to be those most negatively affected by the products, which are used to control dust mites.

The EPA advises consumers who have these products in their homes to consult a physician before using the product.

Consumers who already have used the product and experienced adverse reactions are asked to report the reaction to the local Poison Control Center, allergist or other physician. Or contact EPA’s National Pesticide Telecommunications Network at (800) 858-7378.

Contact S.C. Johnson toll-free at (877) 255-3722 for instructions on returning the product.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Shopko Stores Inc. of Green Bay, Wis., is recalling 9,800 Peek-A-Babe baby garments because the rose-shaped buttons can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

CPSC and Shopko Stores have received one report of a button found in a child’s mouth, but no injuries were reported.

These are one-piece coveralls or two-piece, babydoll-style top and legging sets, made of 100 percent cotton and sold in sizes 0-3M to 24M. The collar labels read “made in China” and “Peek-A-Babe.”

The tops of the coveralls are made of plush, peach-colored knit fabric, with a cream-colored collar and sleeve edges. The coverall tops have three cream-colored, rose-shaped buttons attached to the center front, from the neck to the waist, and are embroidered with a cream-colored rose. The bottoms of the coveralls have eight snaps at the crotch, and are imprinted with peach- and purple-colored roses, and peach-colored dots, on a cream-colored knit fabric.

The babydoll tops are made of plush, cream-colored knit fabric, with a peach-colored collar and sleeve edges. The tops have three peach-colored, rose-shaped buttons attached to the center front, from the neck to the waist, and are decorated with six peach-colored rosettes along the front waist. Leggings sold with these tops have purple, lavender and peach stripes on a cream-colored knit fabric.

Shopko stores nationwide sold these garments from June through October 1999 for $8 to $15.

Consumers should return these garments to Shopko for a refund. For more information, call Shopko at (800) 791-7333, or visit its Web site at www.shopko.com.

Thornwood Furniture Manufacturing of Phoenix is recalling 400 toy chests for replacement because the lids could fall onto a child’s head or neck.

No injuries have been reported.

The oak toy chests, which are 35 inches long, 19 inches high and 19 inches deep, show model number 841LQ or 1814LQ on the rear panel. A 1-inch-wide ventilation opening extends the length of the front of the toy chest just below the lid. The toy chests have one adjustable lid support. The Thornwood Furniture name and address are listed on the product sticker on the rear panel of the toy chest.

Furniture stores nationwide, including Rooms To Go, Bedroom Superstores and MN Goldstein, sold the toy chests from January through November 1999 for about $170.

Consumers should stop children from using the toy chests and contact the store where purchased to get a free replacement. For more information, contact Thornwood Furniture toll-free at (877) 351-0067, or visit its Web site at www.thornwood.com.