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"Bug's Life" mini-projector flashlight

CPSC Recall #99-160a — August 18, 1999

Recall Summary

Recall Number99-160a
Recall DateAugust 18, 1999
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedAbout 139,000
ManufacturerAbout 139,000

Where It Was Sold

Giant Eagle grocery stores in Pennsylvania
West Virginia and Ohio distributed about 8
000 of these flashlights from April 1999 through May 1999 in exchange for four UPC symbols from General Mills cereals. About 131
000 of these flashlights were sold nationwide by General Mills through mail order for about $6. 

Product

"Bug's Life" mini-projector flashlight

Description

PRODUCT: Bug's Life Flashlights - General Mills, of Minneapolis, Minn., is recalling about 139,000 "Bug's Life" mini-projector flashlights, used as a premium with its cereals. The 6-inch, green plastic flashlight has five interchangeable lenses printed with characters from the movie, A Bug's Life. The flashlight casts the outline of the characters on the wall. The flashlight shows an ant character, named "Flik," from the movie. They use two "AA" batteries. "Made in China" is written on the bottom of the flashlight. Giant Eagle grocery stores in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio distributed about 8,000 of these flashlights from April 1999 through May 1999 in exchange for four UPC symbols from General Mills cereals. About 131,000 of these flashlights were sold nationwide by General Mills through mail order for about $6. General Mills is contacting these customers directly about the recall. PROBLEM: These flashlights can short circuit and become very hot when turned on, posing a risk of burns to consumers. INCIDENTS/INJURIES: General Mills has received three reports of these flashlights overheating. There have been no reports of injuries. WHAT TO DO: Consumers should stop using these flashlights immediately, remove and discard the batteries, and mail the flashlights to: General Mills, P.O. Box 2141, Milaca, MN 56353-2141. Consumers who purchased flashlights from Giant Eagle will receive coupons for free boxes of cereal and reimbursement for postage. Consumers who purchased these flashlights by mail order will be notified directly about the procedure for obtaining a refund for the flashlights. For more information, call General Mills at (800) 249-0562 between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. CDT Monday through Friday.

Hazard

These flashlights can short circuit and become very hot when turned on, posing a risk of burns to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

General Mills has received three reports of these flashlights overheating. There have been no reports of injuries.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using these flashlights immediately, remove and discard the batteries, and mail the flashlights to: General Mills, P.O. Box 2141, Milaca, MN 56353-2141. Consumers who purchased flashlights from Giant Eagle will receive coupons for free boxes of cereal and reimbursement for postage. Consumers who purchased these flashlights by mail order will be notified directly about the procedure for obtaining a refund for the flashlights.

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.

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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.

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