CPSC, Dollar Tree Stores Inc. Announce Recall of Toy Sponges

October 10, 2002 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Dollar Tree Stores Inc., of Chesapeake, Va., is voluntarily recalling about 280,000 animal toy sponges. The eyes on the toys can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

CPSC and Dollar Tree Stores have received one report of an eye coming off. No injuries have been reported. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.

There are three types of sponge animals involved in this recall: whales, turtles and fish. The sponge animals are made of soft terry cloth and have suction cups for attaching to tiled or smooth surfaces. The toys have a sewn-in label that reads in part, "DOLLAR TREE DISTRIBUTION, INC.," "MADE IN CHINA" and "RN# 87254."

Dollar Tree, Only One Dollar, Only $1, Dollar Express and Dollar Bills sold the stuffed animals nationwide from May 2001 through September 2002 for $1.

Consumers should take these sponge animals away from young children immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund. For more information, consumers can call Dollar Tree Stores at (800) 876-8077 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov.

CPSC, Dollar Tree Stores Inc. Announce Recall of Stuffed Pool Animal

October 10, 2002 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Dollar Tree Stores Inc., of Chesapeake, Va., is voluntarily recalling about 310,000 stuffed polyester pool animals. The seams can separate exposing the polyester stuffing and foam beads. The foam beads pose a choking hazard to young children.

CPSC and Dollar Tree Stores have received one report of the seam ripping, exposing the polyester stuffing and a plastic bag containing foam beads. No injuries have been reported.

There are eight types of stuffed polyester pool animals involved in this recall: crab, duck, frog, octopus, seahorse, shark, turtle and whale. The brightly colored stuffed animals have a sewn-in label that reads in part, "DOLLAR TREE DISTRIBUTION, INC.," "MADE IN CHINA" and "RN# 87254."

Dollar Tree, Only One Dollar, Only $1, Dollar Express and Dollar Bills sold the stuffed animals nationwide from April 2002 through August 2002 for $1.

Consumers should take these stuffed animals away from young children immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund. For more information, consumers can call Dollar Tree Stores at (800) 876-8077 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov.

CPSC, BRIO® Corporation Announce Recall of Caterpillar Pull Toy

October 10, 2002 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), BRIO® Corp., of Germantown, Wis., a subsidiary of BRIO AB of Sweden, is voluntarily recalling three lot numbers, about 1,000, of the Plan Toys pull-along caterpillars. The antenna on the pull toy can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

BRIO® has not received any reports of injuries or incidents involving these toys. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.

The recalled pull-along caterpillar is bright red and yellow and was sold under the Plan Toys brand name. The wooden caterpillar is about 7-inches long and is pulled by a nylon string. The caterpillar's antenna are two blue protruding pegs that extend about 1/2-inch from the head. The recalled lot numbers are 0645917, 12142323 and 0724423 and are printed on the inside flap of the packaging. A stamp on the top of the tail end of the caterpillar displays the Plan Toys logo and the words "Made in Thailand."

Specialty toy stores, Internet retailers and mail order catalogs sold the caterpillar toys nationwide from January 2002 through September 2002 for about $15.

Consumers should take these caterpillar toys away from children immediately and send them to BRIO® to receive a replacement toy or a refund, including the cost of postage. Consumers should return the recalled toys to BRIO Corp., SAFETY RECALL - Caterpillar, N120 W18485 Freidstadt Road, Germantown, Wis. 53022. For more information, consumers can contact BRIO toll-free at (888) 274-6869 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov.