Total Recall

Here's a nice picture of Orlando playing with a toy that could kill him.

Once again I've purchased a toy that could kill a child. I received an email today from the Consumer Product Safety Commission about one of Orlando's favorite toys:

RC2 Recalls Toy Keys Due to Choking Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Toy Keys

Units: About 275,000

Importer/Distributor: RC2 Brands Inc., of Oak Brook, Ill. The recalled products are marketed under RC2’s Learning Curve and The First Years brands.

Hazard: The colored top portion of the keys can crack, resulting in the release of small parts, which poses a choking hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: RC2 has received four reports of cracking. No injuries have been reported.

Description: “Shake ‘n Jingle Keys,” “Shake & Jingle Keys,” “My Jingle Keys” all by The First Years and the John Deere “Real Keys” are toy keys, with three colored keys attached to a blue, red or green remote control with electronic features. Various colored buttons on the remote activate sounds. Only toy keys with the letter “F” in the date code stamp on the packaging and product are involved in the recall. The date code can be found on the back of the remote control. Toy keys with “TE” in the date code or yellow sides on the remote are not included in this recall.

Sold at: Department stores and independent toy stores nationwide from August 2005 through October 2006 for about $6.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled toy keys immediately and contact RC2 for a free replacement toy.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact RC2 at (800) 704-8697 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the Learning Curve’s Web site at www.learningcurve.com

Earlier this year another toy (a toy cell phone) I'd purchased for one of my cousins also got recalled. Oh, and the batteries in my PowerBook G4 and Sony Vaio laptops were recalled too.

I think anything more complex than a large rubber ball is probably lethal and flawed.

Technorati tags: recall | baby | toys

Toy Mobile Phones Recalled for Choking Hazard

"My First Mobile phone is a red and blue flip style mobile phone with a yellow bear on the cover and a yellow hard plastic antenna. Inside the flip phone are five round orange numeric buttons, as well as a sun button. The phone sounds with various ring tones when the buttons are depressed. On the inside top cover on the phone is a mirror and a spinning star with a lady bug button. “Made in China” is printed on the back of the battery cover."

Hazard: The toy phone’s yellow antenna can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. No injuries have been reported.

I bought this phone for my baby cousin for Christmas!!

Oh my God!

Luckily Amazon.com contacted me. I also received notice of the recall through the Consumer Product Safety Commission's email list.

Weird Recalls

I subscribe to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall email. Almost every week a couple products will get recalled, usually because they pose a choking hazard for a child, or they cause fires.

Then sometimes you get the bizarre recalls, like this one.

Mizuno USA, Inc. Recalls "Gamer" Baseball Gloves Due to Chance of Infection in At-Risk Consumers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Mizuno "Gamer" Baseball Gloves

Hazard: These gloves could contain aspergillus mold. Such mold usually does not affect healthy individuals, but could cause respiratory or other infections in individuals with chronic health problems or in individuals who have impaired immune systems.

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the gloves and contact Mizuno USA, Inc. for information on how to receive a free replacement baseball glove.

WHAT??

How did they even discover this? EEEUUW!

Full press release here.