6” Plush Aflac Promotional Doctor Duck
CPSC Recall #20-173 — August 26, 2020
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 20-173 |
| Recall Date | August 26, 2020 |
| Remedy Type | Dispose |
| Units Affected | About 635,500 |
| Importer | Communicorp Inc., of Columbus, Ga. |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| Directly to Aflac employees and licensed agents from January 2005 through July 2020 for between $3 and $5 and distributed as a promotional giveaway item to customers. |
Product
6” Plush Aflac Promotional Doctor Duck
Description
This recall involves the six inch plush Aflac promotional Doctor Duck. Doctor Duck is white with a yellow beak and feet. It is dressed in a white lab coat with buttons and a stethoscope. “Aflac” is printed on the front of the duck’s lab coat. The plush ducks were distributed by Aflac to consumers as a promotional item.
Hazard
The buttons on the lab coat worn by the Doctor Duck contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content standard. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health issues.
Incidents & Injuries
None reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately dispose of the recalled plush Doctor Duck. Communicorp is contacting Aflac employees and licensed agents who purchased the Doctor Duck directly.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Dispose) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.