Fish-Shaped Cigarette Lighters

CPSC Recall #04-019 — October 28, 2003

Recall Summary

Recall Number04-019
Recall DateOctober 28, 2003
Remedy TypeRefund
Units Affected3,100
ManufacturerThe Sarut Group d/b/a, as City Limit, of New York, N.Y.
Manufactured InFrance

Where It Was Sold

The lighters were sold through internet sales and distribution to retail firms from 2002 to 2003.

Product

Fish-Shaped Cigarette Lighters

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Sarut Group d/b/a as City Limit of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling 3,100 Fish-Shaped Cigarette Lighters. The lighters lack the required child resistant mechanisms and can expose children to fire hazards.Name of product: Fish-Shaped Cigarette LightersUnits: 3,100Manufacturer: The Sarut Group d/b/a, as City Limit, of New York, N.Y.Hazard: The lighters lack the required child resistant mechanisms and can expose children to fire hazards.Incidents/Injuries: None.Description: These novelty cigarette lighters have a metallic colored plastic body and are shaped to resemble a fish and come in a variety of 18 different colors. Colored designs are painted on the body of the fish. The lighters contain a black lighter insert which can be pulled out of the body of the fish. The inserts have a white colored fish skeleton painted on the side.Sold at: The lighters were sold through internet sales and distribution to retail firms from 2002 to 2003.Manufactured in: FranceRemedy: Return the lighters to the retail firm or Sarut Group for a full refund and a discount coupon on your next purchase.Consumer Contact: Beverly Olivier Customer Service Representative at the Sarut Group at (800) 345-6404 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. E.T. Monday through Friday.Firm's Media Contact: Beverly Olivier at (800) 345-6404.

Hazard

The lighters lack the required child resistant mechanisms and can expose children to fire hazards.

Incidents & Injuries

None reported.

Remedy Instructions

Return the lighters to the retail firm or Sarut Group for a full refund and a discount coupon on your 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.

If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

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.