Bendable Dog and Cat Toys

CPSC Recall #06-236 — August 16, 2006

Recall Summary

Recall Number06-236
Recall DateAugust 16, 2006
Remedy TypeDispose
Units AffectedAbout 340,000 toys
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

This toy was a free giveaway by libraries nationwide as part of reading programs from January 2006 through August 2006.

Product

Bendable Dog and Cat Toys

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Fun Express Inc., a subsidiary of Oriental Trading Company Inc., of Omaha, Neb., is voluntarily recalling about 340,000 toys. The paint on the bendable toys contains excessive levels of lead, which is banned under federal law. Lead is toxic and if ingested by young children can cause adverse health effects.Name of Product: Bendable Dog and Cat ToysUnits: About 340,000 toysDistributor: Fun Express Inc., a subsidiary of Oriental Trading Company Inc., of Omaha, Neb.Hazard: The paint on the bendable toys contains excessive levels of lead, which is banned under federal law. Lead is toxic and if ingested by young children can cause adverse health effects.Incidents/Injuries: No incidents or injuries have been reported.Description: The recalled toy is made of bendable plastic and is in the shape of a brown dog with black ears, paws and feet, a Dalmatian dog with pink paws, a white dog with orange spots, a brown dog with pink paws, a white cat with orange stripes, a brown cat with pink paws, a black cat with pink ears and a white cat with brown spots. The toys are about 3.75 inches tall. The toy's packaging is labeled as item 39/1461-K and 39/1461-KM.Provided through: This toy was a free giveaway by libraries nationwide as part of reading programs from January 2006 through August 2006.Manufactured In: ChinaRemedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from children and discard them.Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Fun Express Inc. at (800) 723-6155 anytime, or visit the firm's Web site at www.funexpress.com.

Hazard

The paint on the bendable toys contains excessive levels of lead, which is banned under federal law. Lead is toxic and if ingested by young children can cause adverse health effects.

Incidents & Injuries

No incidents or injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from children and discard them.

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.