Health Alerts - May 2003

Dollar Tree Stores Inc., of Chesapeake, Va., is recalling 407,000 plush bears and 221,000 snowman dolls because buttons on the jacket of these toys can be pulled off, posing a choking hazard to young children.

No injuries have been reported.

The 10-inch plush bear is white and dressed in a hat and jacket in one of the following colors: red, blue, hunter green, pink, purple, light green, light blue and white. The 10-inch snowman doll is dressed in a blue and pink hat and jacket. The snowman dolls also have white scarves and a red ball nose.

Dollar Tree, Only One Dollar, Only $1, Dollar Express and Dollar Bills stores nationwide sold these toys from June 2002 through March 2003 for $1. Consumers should take these toys away from young children and return the toys to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, call Dollar Tree at (800) 876-8077 or visit the firm’s Web site at www.dollartree.com.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is recalling 40,000 Woody dolls because buttons on the clothing can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

No injuries have been reported.

The recalled doll is a cowboy named Woody, a character in the animated films “Toy Story” and “Toy Story II.” The soft-bodied doll has a soft plastic head, hands, boots and hat.

The dolls were sold from January 2000 through January 2003 for about $12 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, Magic of Disney and Flight Fantastic shops located at the Orlando International Airport, and Disney’s Worldport shop located at Pointe Orlando.

Consumers should take the dolls away from children and contact Walt Disney Parks and Resorts at (866) 228-3664 to receive a refund. For more information, visit www.waltdisneyworld.com.

S. Rothschild & Co. Inc., of New York, N.Y., is recalling for repair 37,000 girls’ iridescent, hooded winter jackets because the rubber petal and metal snap can break off, posing a choking hazard to young children.

S. Rothschild has received two reports of the rubber petal coming off the jacket, and snaps have come off in subsequent testing.

The recalled jackets are blue, lilac, pink, raspberry and magenta in sizes 3/6 months to 6X. The style numbers, which can be found on a tag attached to the left sleeve, are 52913, 52813J, 12913K, B2913, 32813, 12816C, 3281J, 82819D, 82816D and 32816C. “Little Impressions,” “Rothschild,” “Izzi’s Kids” or “Clockwise” is on the jacket label.

Major retail stores nationwide sold the jackets from May through December 2002 for $25 to $45.

Consumers should stop using these jackets and contact S. Rothschild and Co. at (800) 301-3411 to arrange for the jacket to be repaired and returned free of charge.

MOSA Sports, of Hermosa Beach, Calif., is recalling 1,250 “Five 40” brand bicycle helmets because riders wearing these helmets are not adequately protected from falls and could suffer head injuries.

No injuries have been reported, but the helmets failed impact testing required under the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets.

The helmets are black, white or red, and have “Five 40” printed on the front and back of the helmet. A label inside the helmet reads “990803,” along with the model name “540.”

Sporting good stores nationwide sold these helmets from October 1999 through September 2001 for $25.

Consumers should stop using these helmets and return them to the store where purchased or MOSA Sports for a refund or free replacement helmet. For more information, contact MOSA Sports at (800) 804-0211.

Atico International USA Inc., of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., is recalling 37,000 electrical hot pots because the bottoms can separate from the tops, posing a serious burn hazard to consumers.

Atico International has received five reports of hot pots separating, but no injuries have been reported.

The recalled Kitchen Gourmet hot pots, which are used to heat beverages, are made of white plastic and have a date code of 0702 on the bottom of the pot and box.

Walgreens stores nationwide sold the hot pots from September 2002 through January 2003 for $10.

Consumers should stop using the hot pots and return them to the store where purchased for a refund. Consumers also can receive a refund by mailing the hot pot to Atico International USA Inc., 501 S. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL. 33301. For more information, call Atico at (800) 645-3867 or visit www.aticousa.com.

Trudeau Corp., of Woodridge, Ill., is recalling 45,200 fondue pots sold as a part of a 17-piece set because the plastic handles attached to the fondue pots can melt and crack during heating on a range top, posing burn and fire hazards to consumers.

Trudeau has received 13 reports of plastic handles breaking or melting, which involve six reports of burn injuries to hands, feet and other body parts.

The recalled fondue pots are labeled on the box as model number 82-384. The sets included six black stoneware sauce/condiment bowls and six chrome-plated forks with color-coded tips. The fondue pot sits on a black, four-legged stand, which houses the burner.

Bed, Bath and Beyond stores nationwide sold the fondue sets from August 2001 through July 2002 for $20.

Consumers should stop using the fondue set and contact Trudeau at (877) 659-4844 to receive a replacement fondue pot and six stoneware fork rests. Consumers also can visit www.trudeaucorp.com.

Toro Co., of Bloomington, Minn., is recalling about 3,400 Toro Snow Commander snow throwers because the plastic fuel tank can crack and leak gasoline, posing a risk for fire and injury.

Toro has received 29 reports of fuel leaking, but no fires or injuries have been reported.

This recall includes 2001 Toro Snow Commander snow throwers with model number 38600 (serial numbers between 210000001 and 210999999) and model number 38602 (serial numbers between 210000001 and 210999999). The model and serial numbers are on the rear of the axle plate between the wheels.

The snow throwers were sold nationwide from October 2000 through March 2003 for $850 to $950.

Consumers should stop using these Toro snow throwers and contact their local Toro authorized service dealer to find out if the snow thrower is included in the recall. If necessary, the dealer will install a free replacement fuel tank. For more information, contact Toro at (800) 689-8671 or visit the firm’s Web site at www.toro.com.

Consumers can find out if a car safety seat has been recalled by calling the manufacturer or the Auto Safety Hot Line at (888) DASH-2-DOT (888-327-4236) or visiting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Web site at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/recall/canister.htm.

If the seat has been recalled, be sure to follow instructions to fix it or get the necessary parts. Consumers also may get a registration card to receive future recall notices by calling the hotline.

For more information about car safety seats, visit www.aap.org/family/cps.htm