FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 1998
Release # 98-102 |
Company Phone Number: (888) 311-6720
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Nychelle Fleming, (301) 504-7063
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CPSC and Sanrio Inc. Announce Recall of Mascot Plushes Animal Toys
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Sanrio Inc., of South San Francisco, Calif., is recalling about 29,000 stuffed Mascot Plushes animal toys. The small bells on these stuffed toys can become detached, presenting an aspiration hazard to young children, which could result in death.
CPSC and Sanrio Inc. are not aware of any injuries involving these toys. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.
The Mascot Plushes involved in this recall are 5-inch-high bean-stuffed animals. They include Hello Kitty, a cat, item 014388; Keroppi, a frog, item 014389; Pochacco, a dog, item 014390; and Badtz Maru, a penguin, item 014391. Each animal comes with a quarter-inch wide metal bell. A card tag, attached to the toy when sold, shows each individual character's name, the item number and also reads, "Sanrio Inc." and "Made in China."
The plush toys were sold at Sanrio's stores and various other retail stores nationwide in October 1997 for about $5.
Consumers should take these stuffed toys away from young children immediately, and either remove the bell from the toy, or return the toy to the store where purchased for a full refund. The toy also can be returned by mail for a full refund plus the cost of postage to Sanrio, Attn: Quality Assurance Dept., 570 Eccles Ave., South San Francisco, CA 94080. For more information about this recall, consumers should call Sanrio at (888) 311-6720 between 8:00 a.m. and 5 p.m. PDT Monday through Friday.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.