Toy vehicles, aquatic animals, bottle feeding sets, and meal time sets
CPSC Recall #96-032 - December 4, 1995
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 96-032 |
| Recall Date | December 4, 1995 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | About 100,000 |
| Manufactured In | China |
Product
Toy vehicles, aquatic animals, bottle feeding sets, and meal time sets
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Imperial Toy Corporation of Los Angeles, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 100,000 toy vehicles, aquatic animals, bottle feeding sets, and meal time sets. The toys can break into small pieces, presenting a choking hazard to small children. The toy vehicles were sold in six styles: two types of cars, a bulldozer, tow truck, dump truck, and cement truck. The plastic vehicles, measuring 4 inches long, 2.75 inches wide, and 3 inches high, have black chassis and brightly colored carriages. The wheels generate sparks that are visible through the vehicles' windows as the toys roll. The toys were sold individually for $2 each from bulk containers labeled in part, "Imperial Mighty Machines Motorized Big Wheel Sparklers***." The toys break into small pieces which could choke children. The aquatic animal toys, measuring 3 inches long, were sold in four styles with three of the styles included in this recall: Tammy the Turtle, Peppy the Penguin, and Sally the Seal. The brightly colored plastic wind-up toys have moving parts that propel them through water. The toys were sold individually for about $4 on blister packed cards labeled in part, "Aqua Wind Ups *** Imperial *** Swimming Aqua Animals *** No 8180." The animals' flippers, feet and snouts break off and present a choking hazard to small children. The Benjie the Beaver aquatic toy is not included in this recall. The toy bottle feeding set consists of two 3-inch high plastic baby bottles. The orange bottle has blue trim with a blue cap. The clear bottle trimmed in pink has a pink cap. The bottles were sold in pairs for $2 and were blister packed on cardboard and labeled in part, "Imperial Cuddles Bottle Feeding Set *** No 8233." If the bottle's nipple and funnel break apart and children put the pieces in their mouths, the children could choke. The plastic toy meal set includes a plastic dish, feeding bottle, two strainers, and a funnel made of blue, yellow, pink, and purple plastic. The toys sold for about $2 and were blister packed on a card labeled in part, "Imperial *** My Dolly Meal Time *** NO. 8327." The end of the bottle breaks off and presents a choking hazard. Ben Franklin, Revco, and toy stores nationwide sold the toys imported from China from 1993 to April 1995. Consumers should take these recalled toys away from young children immediately and return the toys to the store where purchased for a full refund. For more information about this recall, consumers should call Imperial Toy Corporation at (800) 543-6551, or write to the company at 2060 E. 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021. CPSC and Imperial Toy Corporation are not aware of any injuries involving these toys. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.
Hazard
The toys can break into small pieces, presenting a choking hazard to small children.
Incidents & Injuries
CPSC and Imperial Toy Corporation are not aware of any injuries involving these toys.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should take these recalled toys away from young children immediately and return the toys to the store where purchased for a full refund.
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.