"Scented Teethers"
CPSC Recall #94-107 — July 18, 1994
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 94-107 |
| Recall Date | July 18, 1994 |
| Remedy Type | Dispose, No Remedy Available |
| Units Affected | About 9,000 |
| Importer | Remco Toys Co./Azrak-Hamway International, Inc., of New York, N.Y. |
Where It Was Sold
| The teethers |
| which are $1.20 each |
| were sold under the name "T.P.I." primarily at Dollar Bill stores nationwide from November 1993 through May 1994. |
Product
"Scented Teethers"
Description
PRODUCT: Scented teethers sold primarily at Dollar Bill Stores nationwide from November 1993 through May 1994. The teethers are hand or foot shapes in either pink or blue. The toes of the foot teether have pig faces and the fingers of the hand teether have smiling faces. The teethers were imported from China and distributed by Remco Toys Co./Azrak International, Inc. PROBLEM: A substance in the teethers is reported by Remco to be toxic and an eye irritant to young children. No illnesses reported to date. WHAT TO DO: Take the teethers away from young children immediately and return teethers to the stores where they were purchased for a refund. The distributor (Remco) is out of business and cannot be contacted. Washington, DC -- CPSC, Remco Toys Co./Azrak-Hamway International, Inc., of New York, N.Y. is voluntarily recalling about 9,000 baby teethers that contain a substance reported by Remco to be toxic. The "Scented Teethers" were imported from China by Remco and sold primarily at Dollar Bill stores in the United States. The scented teethers are hand and foot shapes in either pink or blue. Each teether has a hole in the center that serves as a handle. The foot teether has pig faces on each toe and is 4 1/2 inches long and 3 1/2 inches wide. The hand teether has smiling faces on each finger and is 4 1/2 inches long and 4 1/4 inches wide. Testing by Remco found that a scent added during the manufacturing process is both toxic and an eye irritant. It is unclear at this point what the substance is, what the toxicity level is, or whether the amount of the substance in a single teether would be hazardous. Investigation into these issues is being conducted by CPSC. Although no illnesses have been reported to date, CPSC and Remco are recalling the teethers to prevent the possibility of illness. The teethers, which are $1.20 each, were sold under the name "T.P.I." primarily at Dollar Bill stores nationwide from November 1993 through May 1994. The words " AHI MADE IN CHINA" are embossed along the hole in the center of each teether. The front of the package in which the teethers were sold reads, in part, "CHILD GUIDANCE Scented Teether B771..." The back of the package reads, in part,"... 1993 REMCO BABY, a division of AZRAK- HAMWAY INT'L., INC. NY,NY. MADE IN CHINA." Take the teethers away from young children immediately and return teethers to the stores where they were purchased for a refund. The distributor (Remco) is out of business and cannot be contacted.
Hazard
A substance in the teethers is reported by Remco to be toxic and an eye irritant to young children.
Incidents & Injuries
No illnesses have been reported to date.
Remedy Instructions
Firm no longer in business. Recall remedy no longer available. Discard the product. Do not donate or resell.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose, No Remedy Available 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, No Remedy Available) 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.