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Toysmith "Surprise Party Time Balls"

CPSC Recall #94-084 — May 30, 1994

Recall Summary

Recall Number94-084
Recall DateMay 30, 1994
Remedy TypeRefund
Units Affected12,000
Importer Toysmith, of Kent, Washington
Manufactured InTaiwan

Product

Toysmith "Surprise Party Time Balls"

Description

PRODUCT: Approximately 12,000 "Surprise Party Time Balls" imported from Taiwan by Toysmith. The balls contain seven to ten trinket toys. Some of the balls also include a sealed clear plastic packet containing several blue and white or green capsules. Each ball is three-inches in diameter. Each ball is wrapped in multi-colored crepe paper. Some of the trinket toys inside the balls may include nylon cord friendship bracelets and rings, paper packets of dinosaurs and monsters, several round reflectors, animal shapes, chess pieces, and plastic cartoon faces. The balls were sold in boxes labeled in part: "SURPRISE PARTY TIME BALL *** SMALL PARTS INSIDE THE BALL NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS *** MADE IN TAIWAN." A sticker on the ball reads "MADE IN TAIWAN." The balls were sold nationwide from January 1991 through May 1994. PROBLEM: The capsules inside the balls can easily pull apart or crumble when pressed, exposing a white hard granular substance. The Monroe County, New York, Public Safety Laboratory, at the request of the Monroe County Health Department, established that the contents of the capsules were not drugs and there is no indication that the material is hazardous. While the capsules are not believed to be hazardous, the appearance of look-alike-drugs in a child's toy is inappropriate. WHAT TO DO: Return the balls to the store where purchased for a refund. Consumers who have questions about this recall may contact Toysmith at (206) 395-3644. WASHINGTON, DC -- CPSC, Toysmith, Kent, Washington, is voluntarily recalling 12,000 "Surprise Party Time Balls" because some of the toys contain look-alike-drug capsules. All of the balls contain 7 to 10 trinket toys. Some of the balls include a sealed clear plastic packet containing several blue and white, or green gelatin capsules similar to pharmaceutical products. The capsules can easily pull apart or crumble when pressed and contain a white hard granular substance. Extensive tests conducted by the Monroe County, New York, Public Safety Laboratory, at the request of the Monroe County Health Department, established that the contents of the capsules were not drugs and there is no indication that the material is hazardous. While the capsules are not believed to be hazardous, the appearance of look-alike-drugs in a child's toy is inappropriate. The issue of the capsules in the balls was brought to CPSC's attention by Judy Braiman, President, Empire State Consumer Association, Rochester, New York. Each ball is approximately three-inches in diameter and consists of a clear or possibly black plastic ball that separates in half. The ball is wrapped in multi-colored crepe paper with a plastic shrink wrap cover. A sticker label on the ball reads "MADE IN TAIWAN." Some of the trinket toys inside the balls may include a nylon cord friendship bracelet and ring, a paper packet of dinosaurs and monsters, several round reflectors, animal shapes, chess pieces, and plastic cartoon faces. The balls are sold in boxes labeled in part: "SURPRISE PARTY TIME BALL * * * SMALL PARTS INSIDE THE BALL NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS * * * MADE IN TAIWAN." The balls were sold nationwide from January 1991 through May 1994. The balls sold for $1.75. They were imported from Taiwan by Toysmith, located at 6250 South 196th Street, Kent, Washington. Consumers should return the "Surprise Party Time Balls" to the store where purchased for a refund. Consumers who have questions about this recall may contact Toysmith at (206) 395-3644. Neither CPSC nor Toysmith is aware of any injuries involving the balls. This voluntary recall is being conducted to alert consumers to the look-alike-drug capsules inside some of the balls. CPSC is the Federal agency responsible for consumer product safety. Some 15,000 different types of consumer products fall within CPSC's jurisdiction.

Hazard

Some of the balls include a sealed clear plastic packet containing several blue and white, or green gelatin capsules similar to pharmaceutical products. While the capsules are not believed to be hazardous, the appearance of look-alike-drugs in a child's toy is inappropriate.

Incidents & Injuries

Neither CPSC nor Toysmith is aware of any injuries involving the balls.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should return the "Surprise Party Time Balls" to the store where purchased for a 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.

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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.

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.

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