Battat, Inc. hits sour note with musical table toy recall

Rat-a-tat-tat and a bang-bang-bang!  Toddlers love to make noise, and for years they have depended on the fun, colorful instruments and toys from Battat Incorporated to develop their young musical talent. Battat has been around for forty years in the USA and their products have been a favorite with parents for just as many years.

Today, however, Battat hit a sour note as they announced the recall of 14,000 Musical Wooden Table toys that had been sold nationwide at various retail and web toy and music stores.  Nine reports of the small pegs on the xylophone pulling off during use caused concern about the potential for a small part choking hazard. Battat reports that they have fortunately received no injury reports, but the recall was issued to reduce the potential for choking incidents in the future.

As shown below, the Musical Wooden Table is a freestanding table with a colorful mix of instruments, including a yellow cymbal, rainbow xylophone and clear plastic drum. The top of the toy is about 7.5 inches in height and is supported by three wooden legs. The tables involved in the recall were sold from September 1, 2006 through October 2010.  Cost averaged $30 each.

 

Now for the tough part – Taking the toy away from the child!  It has to be done in the name of safety, even though giving up the noisemaker may create disharmony between caregiver and child.  The good news is that consumers can contact Battat immediately for a free and improved replacement.  They can be reached by phone at (800) 247-6144, or via their website at www.battatco.com.

Effort underway to reduce cadmium in children's jewelry

In 2010-2011 alone, hundreds of thousands of children’s jewelry products have found their way to the trash compacter before they were able to adorn the young children they were created for. That’s because they contained significantly high levels of cadmium, a chemical that is a known human carcinogen, and has been linked to other health problems, as well. Although there is not yet a federal standard for cadmium limits in children’s jewelry, many U.S. states have enacted their own strict limits. The diversity among these state standards has created headaches for jewelry manufacturers who must either meet the strictest standard and sell their jewelry in all US states, or limit the states in which they want their products to be marketed. Certainly such a choice has a dramatic impact on both small and large businesses in the current economy.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received several petitions from consumer advocate groups demanding that this nation’s leading authority on consumer product safety address the rising concern about cadmium in jewelry.  CPSC, who is heavily burdened under the weight of executing the many new requirements defined by Congress through the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), has struggled to attend to this issue as expeditiously as many consumer advocates would like. Although CPSC has continued to enforce recalls on cadmium-laden jewelry sets where discovered, mandated regulatory compliance seems necessary to dam the stream of hazardous jewelry products that often arrive at U.S. ports from foreign manufacturers like China.  

Photo: Cici Crib

The United States jewelry industry has recently agreed to set limits on the amount of cadmium that can be used in children’s necklaces, bracelets and rings that are intended for sale in the USA.  In reality, the jewelry manufacturers have little option but to do something to address this volatile consumer concern.  The industry has set the limit of cadmium at no more than 300ppm (0.03 percent by weight).  Any piece that exceeds that limit would be subject to more extensive testing before it could be sold in the marketplace. This limit reflects the limits set in several recent settlements with large retailers like Target Corporation. However, it is much higher than those set by Illinois (75ppm) or Connecticut (40ppm).

It may be that the industry is hoping that by taking this voluntary stance on cadmium safety in jewelry they would convince states that have stricter cadmium standards to take a step back on their newly enacted laws and grant the industry some grace.  But consumer groups and retailers are not likely to feel warm and fuzzy about lowering their existing expectations.

In response to the many consumer group petitions they have received, CPSC Commissioners have now tasked two specific groups with this responsibility  ASTM International, a well-respected standard-setting organization in the USA, has been given three months to develop and finalize voluntary cadmium safety guidelines in jewelry and toys.  If ASTM is able to publish a voluntary standard within that three-month time frame (December 16, 2011), the CPSC staff would then review those voluntary guidelines to assess whether they should become mandatory. CPSC would need to complete their assessment and make their recommendations no later than June 16, 2012 (nine months after September 16, 2011).

It is yet to be seen if ASTM can meet this very ambitious timeline, or if CPSC will need to pick up the baton.  In the meantime, all well-informed consumers would be wise to ask the retailer for documentation on the lead and cadmium content in the jewelry purchase being considered for young children. They won't have it, of course, but it is this kind of consumer demand that forces retailers to participate in the safety of our children, and not always play dumb. While it is smart to completely forgo this vanity-driven accessorizing of young children, those who indulge should be aware of the dangers to which they may be inadvertently be exposing their children The biggest risk is found in jewelry for little ones who tend to mouth, lick or swallow small parts.  Tongue studs or lip rings for older teens also carry a significant exposure risk. 

Lead paint recall stalls sale of toy race car sets

Miami toy distributor, Mega Wholesales Corporation, announced a recall of about 1,900 “Gallop X” and “RACING CARS” vehicle sets after discovering that the surface paint on the cars were not in compliance with federal lead paint limits. The car sets, sold in sets of four or six at $2-3 per set, are manufactured by LM Import & Export, Inc., and distributed in Mega Wholesales Corporation retail stores from September 2010 through January 2011.

The 4” plastic cars are labeled on the back of the box with item numbers 43835 or 43836. The cars themselves are painted black, silver or blue, and labeled on the car roof and side doors with “super,” “max,” or “racing” stickers.

Customers are urged to immediately remove the toy cars from access by children, and contact LM Import & Export directly for a refund at (305) 622-7122.

Choking hazard prompts recall of 1.7 million Little Tikes ™ toys

Many watched and laughed out loud as the endearing, but accident-prone “Tim the Tool Man” Taylor created destruction, and sometimes even physical injury, while showing off his less-than competent tool use prowess.  This world of television make-believe made light of the dangers of tools in the hands of a less than fully aware adult.  But dangerous toys in the hands of unwitting youngsters are no laughing matter.

On August 13, 2009, well-known toy manufacturer, Little Tikes™, recalled about 1.6 million tool and workshop play sets due to the design of the large plastic nails that have the potential to cause choking in young children.  In that recall four styles of workshop-themed toys and one play truck with a tool set in the trunk was involved. Today, that recall has been expanded to include eleven additional sets that all contain that same nail design.

In all, three incidents have been cited in which the plastic nail became lodged in the throat of a child, causing the child to choke and require hospitalization. Fortunately, all made a compete recovery, but the potential for a more tragic ending looms nefariously. Because the potential of harm is evident, Little Tikes™ has expanded their recall to include an additional 1.7 million products that contain these large plastic nail components. Products included in the recall were sold nationwide between January 1990 through December of 2004.

The red and blue plastic nails are both about 3.25 inches in length and have a slightly rounded nail head that measures about 1.25 inch in diameter. One and one quarter inch below the nail head is another plastic ridge that measures about 1 inch in diameter.  ASTM F963 Toys Safety Specification has a requirement that defines safeguards for these nail, screw or bolt- shaped components with spherical or hemispherical ends.  They must not be able to enter and fit past the full depth of the test fixture for rattles, squeeze toys and teethers.  The diameter of the opening in this testing fixture is 1.68 inch, with a fixture depth of 1.18 inch.

While it is questionable whether or not these particular nails fall into this category (since the nail head does not immediately appear to be spherical or hemispherical), the fact that the nail could be lodged in the back of a child’s throat is certainly alarming. This gives consumers another learning lesson when selecting toys for their children under 4 years of age. 

For those who have purchased one of the models listed above, remove the nails from the product immediately and contact Little Tikes™ for new and improved replacement nails.  The company can be contacted at (800) 321-0183, or via their website.

Possible Contamination of Wire Flecks Prompts Pepperidge Farm Recall

It’s bad enough that so many of us have those nightmare memories of schooldays spent with wire-threaded metal bands slowly and painfully correcting our awkward adolescent smile. Now the folks at Pepperidge Farm, Inc. may have found a way to create an even more painful scenario.  

Photo:  FDA

Some consumers have complained about slight scrapes inside and around their mouth from eating Pepperidge Farm Baked Naturals Sesame Sticks. Pepperidge Farm issued the voluntary recall of a specific quantity of 10.2-ounce boxes of the Sesame Sticks product. This action was taken as a preventative measure, just in case any of the products happen to experience the presence of small, thin pieces of wire!

The 13,000 cases of products included in this recall were made at the company’s Willard manufacturing facility in Ohio.  Each individual package is marked with a bright yellow banner with the words “20% More!” printed toward the top of the front panel of the box.  Look for the codes below on the top package flap:

     W07*1781 Sell by 11/20/2011          W07*1891 Sell by 11/27/2011
     W07*1921 Sell by 12/4/2011            W07*2041 Sell by 12/11/2011
     W07*2061 Sell by 12/13/2011          W07*2221 Sell by 1/1/2012

These are the ONLY codes involved in this recall. Product was sold in the USA only.

According to the FDA recall information, “consumers who have purchased this product should not eat it. They should check their pantry shelves for boxes with "Sell By" dates of 11/20/2011 through 1/1/2012 marked on the top package flaps and return them to the store of purchase for an exchange or full refund.”

Pepperidge Farm customer service can also be contacted directly at (866) 535-3774. 

Pottery Barn Kids Recalls Soft Dolls to Address Strangulation Concern

Image from
Pottery Barn Kids

How many parents find it impossible to walk by a Pottery Barn Kids store, or avoid clicking on the Pottery Barn Kids website without stopping in for just a minute to see what adorable new product their creative team has come up with?  Pottery Barn Kids, a division of Williams-Sonoma Inc., of San Francisco, California began is canon of cuteness in 1999 when it produced it’s first mail order catalog filled with have-to-have furnishings, home goods and toys.  A year later they continued to reign supreme by opening their first retail location in the upscale Costa Mesa kingdom of South Coast Plaza.

Earlier this month, on September 8, 2011, Pottery Barn Kids found their crown slightly askew when they announced a recall of 81,000 soft dolls that go by the names of Audrey, Sophie and Chloe. It appears that the yarn hair on two of the dolls was not cut consistently.  This left some ends of the hair in a loop that ends up being large enough to allow a small child’s head to fit through the loop, settle around the child’s neck, creating a potential strangulation hazard. On the Audrey doll, the headband (if loose) can also form the same dangerous loop scenario. This strangulation hazard is addressed on the now federally-mandated toy safety specification ASTM F963. The problem was most likely created by a manufacturing error, and not a product design, but whatever the cause - the hazard remains and consumers need to be advised.

Audrey's head band issue; Chloe and Sophies' yarn hair loop issue
Photos: Pottery Barn Kids and CPSC

These adorable 17-inch stuffed dolls were sold for $40 at Pottery Barn Kids stores across the USA, through the PB Kids mail-order catalogs, and on the Pottery Barn Kids website  between July 2006 and April 2011.

Five customer complaints about the looped hair prompted the recall, including on incident with the Chloe doll, in which the loop was actually discovered around the neck of a toddler. Fortunately the child was not hurt, but it was enough to prompt the company to provide various options for customers:

1. Sophie and Chloe dolls: Take the dolls immediately away from children, check all of the ends of the yarn hair, and snip any looped ends to eliminate the hazard; and/or,
2.  Audrey doll: Remove the headband; or
3. Call Pottery Barn Kids at (855) 880-4504 to find out how to return the affected dolls for a merchandise credit; or
4. Access the recall on the Pottery Barn Kids website for instructions.

Note: Look for Health Canada's press release here. 

When Product Recalls Speak, but No One Listens

Kids in Danger is a consumer advocacy group that focuses on the issues of consumer and child safety, as well as children's product safety.  In an article posted on their website on September 1, 2011, they discussed their concerns with the low success rate of both voluntary or mandated product safety recalls.

Appalled by the diminutive effectiveness (less than 1%) of one individual corrective action plan summary for an infant play yard, the article continues to stress that a lot of work needs to be done to improve the safety of children's products in the marketplace today. Regarding product safety recalls, they suggest a three part solution to improving the performance of product safety alerts: 1)  Design safe products, 2) Submit the products to rigorous testing, and 3) Conduct effective recalls.  


It is very important to note that a product that is tested to any given toy or children's product safety standard at a third-party laboratory does not mean that the product is "safe."  Product safety is more than an "X" rubber stamped on a piece of paper. Let's be honest - How many consumers go into the local toy store and ask to see the test report that shows the product being considered for purchase has been properly tested?  How many would know how to read the report even if it was presented to them.  That's right, less than 1% would ask and even less would be able to interpret the report properly.  Consumers assume that a product on the store shelves has been tested and complies with the existing safety standards. 

Logo:  CPSC

In this day and age it is more likely than not that a children's product has been tested to the applicable safety standard.  Manufacturers, distributors, and even retailers should be sure that they are confident that the product they are offering to the public is as safe as possible. Product design, risk assessment for foreseeable use & misuse, consistent production quality, supply chain transparency, clear user instructions, suitable labeling (not over-labeling), packaging & marketing, caregiver vigilance and consumer knowledge of typical child development landmarks all play into children's product safety.  History shows that the majority of children's products recalled by CPSC did have the required physical and chemical lab testing completed at some point. Past that, any one of those aforementioned factors played into the scenario somehow to create an unintentional hazard.


Having designed and implemented several CPSC recalls myself, it could be said that the slow and minimal results mentioned in the KID article are actually much lower than normally experienced. Still, it is sadly true that if any corrective action plan gets a 25-28% effective rate it is considered acceptable.  That means that about 75% of the product in the hands of the consumer is in the "unknown zone."  It is either perfectly safe or potentially unsafe. The unknown zone is an uncomfortable place for any manufacturer. 

Photo: Fisher Price

To be honest, this miserable recall effectiveness rate is NOT always for lack of effort on the part of the manufacturer.  Past sending out letters to customers, website warnings, store posters, press releases and local news reports, a manufacturer relies on the responsiveness of the consumer. What is it saying about consumers of toys and children's products when, after all these attempts to educate them about the potential product hazard, they still look the other way?
Even listening to the typical sensationalistic and often inaccurate media reports of injury or deaths does not seem to be enough to hit home. KID recognizes an important factor. Child safety is often being left to a single press release and to the extent to which a manufacturer is able to notify their customers. 


They ask the question: "...how can manufacturers best reach you when a product is recalled?  What would make you take the time to participate in a recall?" 


You are invited to respond to that question by emailing Kids in Danger at email@KidsInDanger.org.

Manhattan Toy's Twirlla™ Wooden Rattle Recalled

Manhattan Group, LLC (also known as Manhattan Toy) has a long-standing legacy of unique specialty toys and gifts.  They have always remained true to their original concept of creating non-traditional soft-stuffed, fabric and wooden toys,, Founded in 1979 by movie studio mogul Sam Goldwyn’s grandson, Francis Goldwyn, Manhattan Toy products can now be seen in over 10,000 retail stores around the world. Safety and quality are two words that most consumers would associate with these toys.

On September 1, 2011, that safety record got a black eye, when 3,445 of their Twirlla™ Wooden rattles were recalled due to a potential choking hazard.  The U-shaped portion of the rattle can break off into a small part that, if swallowed, could cause the infants using the rattle to choke.

Here are the details:

• 3,300 recalled in the United States
• 145 recalled in Canada
• No injuries in the USA or Canada have been reported
• Sold in gift and baby specialty stores
• Sold at ManhattanToy.com
• Only those sold from March 2011 through July 2011 are involved in recall
• Sell price was about $12

To prevent any potential choking or injury, stop using the rattle immediately and take them back to the original purchase location for a full refund. Alternately, contact the Manhattan Group at (800) 541-1345 visit their website at www.manhattantoy.com

Note: Health Canada's press release is here.