Peek-a-Boo Ball
CPSC Recall #04-571 — August 5, 2004
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 04-571 |
| Recall Date | August 5, 2004 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | About 22,500 |
| Manufacturer | HearthSong Inc., of Madison, Va. |
| Manufactured In | Thailand |
Where It Was Sold
| Exclusively through HearthSong's catalog and website from October 2001 through March 2004 for about $10. |
Product
Peek-a-Boo Ball
Description
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), HearthSong Inc., of Madison, Va., is voluntarily recalling about 22,500 Peek-a-Boo Balls. The wooden rings on the holes of the product may crack, allowing the small wooden heads to fall out and pose a choking hazard to young children.Name of Product: Peek-a-Boo BallUnits: About 22,500Manufacturer: HearthSong Inc., of Madison, Va.Hazard: The wooden rings on the holes of the product may crack, allowing the small wooden heads to fall out and pose a choking hazard to young children.Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received one report of a child placing the small wooden head in its mouth. No injuries have been reported.Description: The recalled toy is a blue wooden ball with six holes located equally around the ball. Each hole contains a small wooden head with a smiling face in various colors.Sold at: Exclusively through HearthSong's catalog and website from October 2001 through March 2004 for about $10.Manufactured In: ThailandRemedy: HearthSong will notify all known purchasers by mail regarding a refund and a discount towards the next purchase.Consumer Contact: For additional information, call HearthSong toll-free at (888) 623-6557 anytime or log onto the company's website at www.hearthsong.com.
Hazard
The wooden rings on the holes of the product may crack, allowing the small wooden heads to fall out and pose a choking hazard to young children.
Incidents & Injuries
The firm has received one report of a child placing the small wooden head in its mouth. No injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
HearthSong will notify all known purchasers by mail regarding a refund and a discount towards the next purchase.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund 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 (Refund) at no cost to you.
Federal law prohibits the sale of toys with small parts for children under age 3. CPSC uses a standardized small parts cylinder to test whether pieces from a toy can fit entirely inside — if they can, they are considered a choking hazard. Products marketed for children under 3 must not contain any small parts. Beyond the legal requirements, the CPSC and pediatricians recommend keeping all small objects away from children under 4, as the risk of choking extends beyond the formal legal age threshold.
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.