The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Regent Sports Corporation of Hauppauge, New York, announced a recall today of the MacGregor Folding Soccer Goals and Mitre Folding Soccer goals.  About 190,000 units are involved in the recall because the fixed knot flexible openings in the soccer goal net can pose a head and neck entrapment or strangulation hazard to young children.  As a matter-of-fact, Regent Sports and the CPSC have received two reports of head entanglement, including the strangulation death of a 20-month-old child who was found with his arm and neck tangled in the soccer goal net.  Consumers are alerted to immediately stop using the recalled soccer goal nets and return them to Regent Sports to arrange for Eeka free replacement net.

Both of the recalled soccer goals have a foldable white frame with a white net that is attached by Velcro strips.  When placed upright, the MacGregor goal measures six feet wide by three feet high and the Mitre net measures eight feet wide by six feet high. (more…)

We have long been reporting on the dangers of magnetic toy sets   to children.  Now, Health Canada is repeating its advisories about the dangers posed by the small magnets to children who can swallow them.  Should a child swallow more than one magnet over a short period of time, the small magnets can attract one another when traveling through the child’s intestines.  When this happens, the magnets can slowly tear through the intestinal walls, and block or twist the intestines, and result in serious injuries and even death.

Small, powerful magnets are quite popular today and are often found in toys, novelty jewelry, and other consumer items.  As a matter-of-fact, during 2006 and 2007, several high-profile, wide-scale toy recalls were conducted by toy manufacturers because of these types of powerful magnets separating from toys and being swallowed by small children, resulting in a number of injuries to children in the United States.  Also, recently, a five-year-old child in British Columbia required emergency surgery to remove two magnetic toy parts she swallowed and, in the United States, as of April 2007, 33 cases of emergency surgery due to swallowed magnets were reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). (more…)

Although the recently passed Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act includes strict new standards protecting children from dangerous toys and other products, many are concerned about toys being made now  in accordance with less strict current standards.  This issue was the focus of a recent dispute between Democratic Illinois Representative Jan Schakowsky—one of the bill’s authors—and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff.  In a letter addressed to acting CPSC Chairman Nancy Nord, Schakowsky accused the CPSC of encouraging companies to quickly “sell or export” goods that meet current standards but will become illegal next year.

Schakowsky said that CPSC staff implied—during a recent briefing with retailers and manufacturers—that it would take a relaxed position until the new rules go into effect.

”The tone [of the September 5 meeting] was absolutely counter to protecting children,” Schakowsky said. “They’re saying ‘Fire sale time.  You’d better get rid of these goods before they’re illegal.’”  John “Gib” Mullan, heads of the CPSC’s compliance office, said he had not seen Schakowsky’s letter and claimed the CPSC is not pulling back on enforcement, saying he meant to say companies have to make a business decision about existing inventories; currently goods made to prevailing standards can legally be sold or exported.  Schakowsky said Mullan should be encouraging companies to work to follow the law and should not be advising such companies on how to dump goods that will soon be officially unsafe.  “He could have set the tone that ‘We’re serious’ [about the new rules],” Schakowsky said. “Instead, they were saying ‘Here’s your warning: You’ve got this many days to get rid of your inventory.’” (more…)

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging parents to be particularly cautious with pillow use in the nursery, as well as other baby products.  As a matter-of-fact, the CPSC strongly urges parents to avoid placing pillows in cribs as they pose high risk of suffocation and entrapment and is aware of at least 47 infant deaths that occurred between January 2006 and May 2008 associated with pillow use in the infant’s sleeping area.  Also, between January 1992 and May 2008, pillows and cushions were linked to 531 infant deaths.  “Parents should be especially vigilant when preparing for a new baby,” said Acting Chairman Nancy Nord.  “Babies represent our most precious and vulnerable population.”

In response, the CPSC has issued a number of hints and warnings, which follow: (more…)

Hobbico Inc. of Champaign, Illinois is recalling batteries used in 11,000 radio-controlled helicopter kits due to fire hazard.  The helicopter’s rechargeable battery can overheat and catch fire while charging, igniting nearby combustible materials. This poses a fire hazard to consumers and Hobbico has received 28 reports of batteries overheating and/or melting, including 27 reports of flames and minor property damage.  Although no injuries have been reported, thus far, this is not the first time such a product has been recalled for fire hazard issues.  The product was manufactured in China.

The recall involves the Electrifly lithium-polymer batteries (part #GPMP0401) sold individually or with the Heli-Max Axe CP-L radio-controlled helicopter kits, which includes a 23-inch long plastic helicopter; a battery; a radio transmitter; a balance charger’ a car adapter; an AC wall adapter; decals that read “HMX,” “AXE,” and “Heli-Max”; and training gear.  “Electrifly” and “GPMP0401” are printed on the battery.  The batteries were sold at Hobby Stores nationwide and online from November 2007 through March 2008 for about $35; helicopter kits were sold for $200. (more…)

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with the firms named below, today announced a variety of children’s product recalls due to high lead contents and concerns over adverse health effects.  All of the items were manufactured in China.

Children’s Charm Craft Kits:  Approximately 18,500 kits imported by Action Products International Inc., of Ocala, Florida have been recalled as the clasp contains high lead levels.  The recall involves “Super Dooper Charms” (item #63403) and “Shoelace Charms” (item #67310) and the kits contain components such as charms, beads, wire, and clasps that are used to create necklaces, jewelry accessories, or charms that can be hooked on shoelaces, backpacks, or used as zipper pulls. The item number can be found on the back of the package.  The Children’s Charm Craft Kits were sold by a variety of retailers nationwide July 2007-April 2008 and retailed for about $17 for the “Super Dooper Charms” kit and $6 for the “Shoelace Charms” kit.  Consumers should immediately take the recalled product away from children and contact Action Products International for instructions on returning it for a free replacement at (800) 772-2846 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or at www.apii.com. (more…)

The U.S. Consumer Produces Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued two recalls of defective children’s products.  The Children’s Place is recalling Camouflage Pajama Sets due to excessive lead and MindWare is recalling its Children’s Animal Tracking Explorer Kit because the kit contains a chemical that irritates the skin and eyes.

Approximately 28,000 Camouflage Pajama Sets, which were manufactured in Vietnam for The Children’s Place Retail Stores Inc., of Secaucus, New Jersey have been recalled because the screen print on the shirt contains excessive levels of lead.  This recall involves long- and short-sleeved pajama sets, which have a blue shirt with a red screen print that reads “Athletics 90.”  The pajama sets include coordinating camouflage pants. The Children’s Place Camouflage Pajama Sets were sold in boys’ sizes XXS (2/3) to XL (14) exclusively at: The Children’s Place stores nationwide and online at www.childrensplace.com from December 2006 to January 2008 and retailed for between $15 and $17. (more…)

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (UPSC), in cooperation with QuinCrafts of Dexter, Michigan, today announced a voluntary recall of the Makit & Bakit Jewelry Sets and Suncatcher sets as the clasps on some of the jewelry contains high levels of lead.

About 70,000 of the Makit & Bakit Jewelry Sets and Suncatcher sets are being recalled and included those QuinCrafts products containing children’s jewelry.  The recall includes the following items.  Item numbers can be found printed on the back of the packaging: (more…)

Little Tikes Toy Cell Phones have been recalled because they may pose a choking hazard to small children.  Kids Station Toys, the maker of the recalled Little Tikes Toy Cell Phones, says it has received one report of a child who started to choke on a small piece that came apart from the toy.

The recall involves about 1 million Little Tikes Chit ‘N Chat Toy Cell Phones.  The toys were sold at department, juvenile product, and drug stores nationwide from June 2006 through March 2008 for about $8 (individually) or about $20 (set).  (more…)

Reports of children becoming unconscious after swallowing Aqua Dots beads resulted in a recall in November and a seizure of merchandise in December.  At the time, it was widely reported that the potentially toxic chemical 1,4-butanediol—BD—was used in place of the benign, nontoxic, yet more expensive 1,5-pentanediol—PD—in the manufacture of the beads.  A new study, led by Dr. Jeffrey Suchard of the University of California, Irvine confirms these reports and that Aqua Dots contained no 1,5-PD at all, but instead contained a very high level—nearly 14 percent—of extractable 1,4-BD.

Thousands of cartons of the dangerous Aqua Dots toy were recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and seized at the port of Savannah last December following the November recall.  The cartons were bound for American shores from China and represented about $2 million dollars worth of the poisonous toys.  When mixed with water, the toys formed GHB, the date rape drug, a banned and hazardous substance. (more…)