Thursday, August 02, 2007
Massive Fisher-Price Recall Affects Sesame Street, Dora The Explorer, Other Toys
On the heels of a
huge recall of Thomas Railroad toys thought to contain lead-based paint, toy giant Fisher-Price is recalling nearly a million units for the same reason.
The New York based company said it had not received reports of injuries, but a chance existed that excessive lead based paint was used for toys based on popular children's characters. Those characters are from series such as
Sesame Street,
Dora the Explorer, and
Sponge Bob Squarepants among others.
The recalled involves various figures and toys that were manufactured between April 19, 2007 and July 6, 2007 and were sold alone or as part of sets. The model names and product numbers for the recalled toys, which are all marked with “Fisher-Price,” are listed below. The toys may have a date code between 109-7LF and 187-7LF marked on the product or packaging.
The toymaker also issued a large recall earlier this year for its "Little People Animal Sounds Farm". That toy had a loose fastener that injured at least one child that resulted in surgery. As part of that recall, Fisher-Price agreed to pay a civil penalty of nearly one million dollars. Another choking hazard in a Fisher-Price toy was also found earlier this year when
500,000 "Laugh and Learn Bunny Toys" were recalled. The recalls follow a relatively quiet 2006 that was marred only by a
recall of 600,000 musical toy chairs that the Consumer Product Safety Commission said could trap a small child and lead to strangulation.
Fisher-Price is a unit of Mattel and conceded that the affected toys were made in China. The company instructed parents and caregivers to take the affected toys away from children immediately. Fisher-Price will issue a voucher for a replacement toy. Consumers can call toll-free (800) 916-4498 anytime for more information.
Labels: CPSC, Fisher-Price, recall, safety
Monday, March 12, 2007
Fisher-Price Settles Government Recall Case For $975,000, Admits No Wrongdoing
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that Fisher-Price Inc., has agreed to pay a $975,000 civil penalty. The penalty, which the Commission has provisionally accepted, settles allegations that the company failed to report to the government that a nail fastener in the Little People® Animal Sounds Farm could separate from the toy and pose a serious choking or aspiration hazard to young children.
About 67,000 Little People® Animal Sounds Farms were sold nationwide by Fisher-Price from June 2002 through July 2002. In September 2002, the company received its first report of a nail fastener coming loose from one of the toy barn’s stall doors. Over the next two months, Fisher-Price received nine additional reports, including one case of a child placing the nail fastener in her mouth.
By February 2003, Fisher-Price had received two reports of parents concerned that this problem posed a choking hazard to children and a report of a December 30, 2002 incident in which a 14-month old child aspirated a nail fastener into his lung. The child was taken to the hospital and underwent an emergency surgical procedure to have the metal nail fastener removed.
It was not until March 2003 that the company reported the safety hazard with the Little People® Animal Farm to the Commission. By that time, Fisher-Price was aware of at least 33 reports in which the nail fastener came loose from the stall doors. These included four reports of children who put the metal nail fastener in their mouths and the one case of the child who aspirated the nail fastener.
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 which could create a substantial risk of injury to the public, presents an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, or violates a federal safety standard.
In April 2003, CPSC and Fisher-Price announced the recall of the Little People® Animal Sounds Farms and recommended that consumers take the toy away from young children immediately and contact the company to receive a free repair kit. Consumers can still call Fisher-Price anytime at (866) 259-7873 or order the repair kit online at www.service.mattel.com
In agreeing to settle the matter, Fisher-Price Inc. denies CPSC’s allegations that the company knowingly violated the law.
Prior to the loss of quorum, the Commission delegated authority to the Office of Compliance and Field Operations to settle this matter with Fisher-Price before March 1, 2007.
Labels: Fisher-Price, recall
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Toy Rabbit Recall - Seasonal Alert For Child Safety
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission and Fisher-Price have combined to announce a voluntary recall of
500,000 "Laugh and Learn Bunny Toys" because of a choking hazard.
The government agency reported that no injuries had occurred yet, but the toy company reacted quickly after learning that the nose could detach and pose a choking hazard.
This recall involves the Laugh and Learn Learning Bunny that measures about 10-inches tall. The yellow bunny with one green and one orange ear has musical and counting sound effects. The words, "Laugh and Learn" are printed on the bunny's shirt. Product numbers involved in the recall are: K0468, K2960, K2961, K2962, K2963, K2964, K2965, K3440, K6898, K7884, L0327, and K5862. The product numbers are located on the fabric tag sewn to the body of the bunny. Only bunnies with three dimensional pompom noses are included in this recall. Bunnies with flat or embroidered noses are not subject to this recall.
Again to its credit, the company has asked consumers to take the toy from a child and contact Fisher-Price to arrange a replacement toy of the consumer's choice. That is a classy way to end what could have been public relations nightmare.
For additional information, contact Fisher-Price at (866) 447-5003 anytime.
Labels: Fisher-Price, recall
