The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced recalls on the following products. Consumers should stop using recalled products unless otherwise instructed.
Magnetic toys
Product: All Magnetix magnetic building sets
Units: About 3.8 million
Importer: Rose Art Industries Inc., of Livingston, N.J.
Hazard: Tiny magnets inside the plastic building pieces and rods can fall out. Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract to each other and cause intestinal perforation or blockage, which can be fatal.
Incidents/injuries: There have been 34 incidents involving small magnets, including the death of a 20-month-old boy and four serious injuries.
Description: All Magnetix magnetic building sets including the X-treme Combo, Micro and Extreme sets. The sets contain 20 to 200 plastic building pieces and 20 to 100 ½-inch diameter steel balls. The building pieces are red, yellow, blue and green, and are shaped in 1½-inch squares, 1-inch triangles and cylinder rods. Some plastic building pieces have“Magnetix” imprinted on them.
Sold at: Wal-Mart, Target, Toys'R Us, Fred Meyer, Design Science Toys Ltd., A.C. Moore and other toy and arts and crafts stores nationwide from September 2003 through March 2006 for $20 to $60.
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the magnetic sets and return them to Rose Art for a free replacement product suitable for young children under the age of 6. Consumers should keep all small magnet parts out of the hands of children who mouth objects.
Contact: Call (800) 779-7122 or visit www.roseart.com.
Lead in jewelry
Four firms have recalled jewelry because they contain high levels of lead. Children in contact with these items are in danger of lead poisoning, which is associated with behavioral problems, learning disabilities, hearing problems and growth retardation.
Product: Reebok heart-shaped charm bracelets
Units: About 300,000
Importer: Reebok International Ltd., of Canton, Mass.
Incidents/injuries: Reebok has received a report of a death caused by lead poisoning of a 4-year-old child from Minneapolis. The child reportedly swallowed a piece from one of these bracelets.
Description: The 8-inch-long metal bracelet has a heart-shaped charm with “Reebok” engraved on one side. The charm bracelet was provided as a free gift with the purchase of various styles of children's footwear.
Sold at: Major shoe stores nationwide from May 2004 through March 2006 for $33 to $50.
Remedy: Consumers should take the charm bracelets away from children and dispose of the jewelry.
Contact: Call (800) 994-6260 or visit www.reebok.com.
Product: Dollar Tree Mood Necklace and Ring, Glow-in-the Dark Necklace and Ring, and UV Necklace and Ring
Units: About 580,000
Importer: Dollar Tree Distribution Inc., of Chesapeake, Va.
Description: The silver rings are adjustable and have a toy“gem” in the center. The necklaces have a black string with silver colored clasps and a silver charm with a “gem” in the center.
Sold at: Dollar Tree, Dollar Bill, Dollar Express, Greenbacks, Only$1 and Super Dollar Tree stores nationwide from September 2003 through February 2006 for $1.
Remedy: Consumers should take jewelry away from children and return it to the store where purchased for a refund.
Contact: Call (800) 876-8077 or visit www.dollartree.com.
Product: American Girl children's jewelry
Units: About 180,000
Manufacturer: American Girl Inc., of Middleton, Wis., a division of Mattel Inc., of El Segundo, Calif.
Description: The recall includes American Girl necklaces, bracelets,earrings and hair accessories for girls. The recall does not include jewelry for American Girl dolls. The jewelry's packaging features a red and white cardboard backing with “American Girl” written on the front.
Sold at: American Girl Place in Chicago and New York, and the American Girl Outlet in Oshkosh, Wis., from May 1999 through February 2006 for$8 to $12. American Girl jewelry sold through its catalogue or Web site is not included in the recall.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take recalled jewelry away from children and return the items for a refund to: American Girl Jewelry Recall,P.O. Box 620974, Middleton, WI 53562-0974.
Contact: Call (800) 659-0164 or visit www.americangirl.com/recall.
Product: Beaded photo charm bracelet
Units: About 25,000
Importer: Oriental Trading Company Inc., of Omaha, Neb.
Description: The charm bracelets consist of silver-colored metal beads with a silver-colored metal heart frame attached.
Sold on: Oriental Trading Company's Web site from July 2004 through September 2005 for about 50 cents each.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take these charm bracelets away from children and contact Oriental Trading Company to receive a refund or credit for the product.
Contact: Call (800) 723-6155 or visit www.orientaltrading.com.
Toy pliers
Product: Child Guidance toy pliers
Units: About 25,000
Importer/retailer: RadioShack Corp., of Fort Worth, Texas
Hazard: The toy's sliding yellow knob can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.
Description: The Child Guidance “Busy Baby Activity Tool Pliers” are battery-operated toys that make various electronic sounds,play music and have flashing lights. The pliers also contain multicolored beads.
Sold at: RadioShack stores nationwide and the RadioShack Web site from August 2004 through February 2006 for about $6.
Remedy: Consumers should take the toy pliers away from children and return them to any RadioShack store for a refund.
Contact: Call (800) 843-7422 or visit www.radioshack.com.
Toy vehicles
Product: Primary Sounds toy vehicles
Units: About 3,500
Importer/distributor: Kids Preferred LLC, of Dayton, N.J.
Hazard: The hubcaps on the toy's plastic wheels can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.
Description: The toys are soft, stuffed yellow taxis, black and white police cars and red fire engines, each with four plastic wheels. The toys have a silver-colored button on top that makes sounds when pushed.
Sold at: Kohl's Department Stores and specialty retailers nationwide from September 2005 through January 2006 for about $12.
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled toy immediately and contact Kids Preferred LLC for a refund.
Contact: Call (866) 763-8869 or e-mail [email protected].
Snail toys
Product: BRIO's Pull-along Snails
Units: About 2,100
Manufacturer: BRIO Corp. of Germantown, Wis., a subsidiary of BRIO AB, of Sweden
Hazard: The snail toy is sold with a rattle containing a bell. The rattle can come apart, and the bell is a choking hazard to young children.
Description: The BRIO Pull-along Snail is wooden with a red painted body and yellow wheels. On the back of the snail is a removable green bell rattle with a yellow swirl and multi-colored posts.
Sold at: Specialty toy stores nationwide, Web retailers and mail order catalogs from September 2005 through January 2006 for about $13.
Remedy: Consumers should take the snail away from their child immediately and contact BRIO to receive a free replacement product.
Contact: Call (888) 274-6869 or visit www.brio.net.
Children's clothing
Product: U.S. Polo Association youth hooded sweatshirt with drawstring
Units: About 30,000
Manufacturer: Jordache Ltd., of New York.
Hazard: The garments have a drawstring through the hood, posing a strangulation hazard to children.
Description: The recalled youth hooded fleece garments were sold in a variety of colors and have “U.S. Polo Assn.” written on them.
Sold at: JCPenney stores nationwide from September through December 2005 for about $40.
Remedy: Consumers should remove or cut the drawstrings to eliminate the hazard, or return the garment to the store where purchased for a refund.
Contact: Call (888) 295-3267, visit www.jcpenney.comor e-mail [email protected].
Swing sets
Product: “Max Play” Single Post and “Kid Builders Arch” swing sets
Units: About 3,600
Distributor: PlayPower LT Farmington Inc., of Farmington, Mo.(formerly Little Tikes Commercial Play Systems Inc.)
Hazard: The connection between the swing set's horizontal top beam and the vertical end support post can break, posing a risk of injury if the user falls to the ground or is hit by the beam.
Description: Both swing sets have metal frames in a variety of colors. The frame of the “Max Play” Model 200096625 has vertical support posts with a horizontal beam connected across the top. The frame of the “Kid Builders Arch” model 200122457 has arched end posts with a horizontal beam across the top.
Sold by: PlayPower LT representatives directly to consumers from December 1997 through June 2004 for the “Max Play” Single Post Swing for about $900, and from May 2002 through November 2005 for the“Kid Builders Arch” Swing for about $1,800.
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the swing sets immediately and remove the swing's chains and seats from the top beam until a repair kit can be installed. PlayPower LT is contacting swing owners by mail and is providing free repair kits.
Contact: Call (800) 265-9953, ext. 206, visit www.littletikescommercial.comor e-mail at [email protected].
