Quality & Design Issues force recall of two infant rattle sets

Two collections of infant rattles were recalled from store shelves in Colorado and Dallas last week.  Distributed by Toy Distribution of Los Angeles, one set of five rattles and the other set of nine rattles were sold in toy stores in the two states from December 2009 thru December 2010 at the quality-assuring price of $2.00 a set.

Yes, the facetiousness does seep in here, I admit.  But really folks – how does it make sense that toys that cost less than a cup of coffee can actually be trusted to be safe for an active, teething infant, the most vulnerable of our consumers?  It’s obvious that price alone is not an indication of safety or quality, but certainly it should be one factor that caregivers use to guide their decisions. Quality, toughness and durability built into toys are costly, but for an infant toy, these features should top the list.  Chinese manufacturers, Winning Key Manufacturing and Topwin Toys, HK, produced these sets, and the December 13, 2011 CPSC announcement indicates that only 50 sets are involved.    

In the case of these rattles, small parts can break off creating a choking hazard for children under three years of age.  The plastic handles have a rounded shape at the ends that have the potential to become pushed into the back of the child’s throat, blocking the airway, also creating a choking hazard.  If the child is toddling and falls with the end of the handle in their mouth, this could cause harm to the roof of the mouth or soft pallet. 

Photo: CPSC

• Item name HANDBELL TOYS printed at the top left-hand corner of the boxes. 
• The name "JUNYI" printed on the front top right-hand corner of one box with item number 58083801 on a white sticker on the back of the box.
• The name "XIN DA MEI" printed on the front of the box in the top right-hand corner, with the item number 308363 on a white sticker on the back of the box.

Consumers who think they may possess these sets should remove the toys from  child use immediately and contact the place of purchase for refund or replacement. Toys Distribution can be reached directly at (323) 266-8088, or via email at mailbox@shoptdi.com .