"Funny Clown" and "Dress-Me Clown" dolls
CPSC Recall #90-133 - July 30, 1990
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 90-133 |
| Recall Date | July 30, 1990 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | Over 250,000 |
Product
"Funny Clown" and "Dress-Me Clown" dolls
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Brightly colored toy clown dolls, marketed as the "Funny Clown" or "Dress-Me Clown," are the subject of a safety warning/recall program by JSNY of New York, NY because they contain small parts that present a choking risk to children under the age of three. The refund program is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Over 250,000 clown dolls were sold by mail order catalogue and by retailers nationwide from 1986 to 1989 at a cost of about $5.00. Clothed primarily in red, blue and yellow, this doll has yellow string hair, a clown's cap and is about 13 inches long. It also has a snap, button, zipper, buckle and shoe laces intended to introduce children to various dressing functions. The doll may be identified by a cloth tag sewn onto the doll's cap that says: "JSNY." While the dolls were advertised and age labeled for children over age three, they may be used by children under three. The Commission has tested the dolls and found that the button, buckle and zipper are small parts that present a choking, ingestion, and aspiration hazard to children under three. To date, no injuries have been reported. Consumers owning a JSNY Funny Clown dress up doll which is being used by a child under age three should immediately take it away from the child and may arrange for a refund by phoning the company at its toll-free number, 1-800-841-1007, or its office number, 212-989-7591.
Hazard
The Commission has tested the dolls and found that the button, buckle and zipper are small parts that present a choking, ingestion, and aspiration hazard to children under three.
Incidents & Injuries
To date, no injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers owning a JSNY Funny Clown dress up doll which is being used by a child under age three should immediately take it away from the child and may arrange for a refund by phoning the company at its toll-free number, 1-800-841-1007, or its office number, 212-989-7591.
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.