Wisconsin "Sweet Home Shoe House Playset" and "Ice Cream Doll"
CPSC Recall #88-032 — May 25, 1988
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 88-032 |
| Recall Date | May 25, 1988 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | Approximately 6,500 Shoe House Playsets |
| Manufactured In | Hong Kong |
Product
Wisconsin "Sweet Home Shoe House Playset" and "Ice Cream Doll"
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Product Safety Commission, the Wisconsin Toy Company, Inc. of New York is voluntarily recalling its "Sweet Home Shoe House Playset" and "Ice Cream Doll" because they have small parts and may present a choking hazard to young children. Consumers should take the items away from children and return them to the retailer where purchased for a full refund. The "Sweet Home Shoe House Playset" is a plastic house in the shape of a work boot, measuring 11 by 7 by 6 inches, containing pieces of dolls and doll furniture. The playsets are labeled "1984 JUMBOS INTERNATIONAL (HONG KONG) CO. NO. 698", and 6,500 were sold nationally for about $5.00. "Ice Cream Doll" is a soft doll about 12 inches tall, with a plastic ice cream cone suspended from a string around the neck of the doll, with a sewn-in label marked "ICE CREAM DOLL, MADE IN HONG KONG." $3.00. CPSC and Wisconsin Toy said they know of no injuries involved with the toys. U.S. Customs agents and CPSC inspectors discovered the small parts violation of the Ice Cream Doll during "Operation Toyland" import surveillance at Newark, New Jersey last fall. Anyone wishing additional information may call Wisconsin at (201) 279-9718.
Hazard
The toys have small parts and may present a choking hazard to young children.
Incidents & Injuries
CPSC and Wisconsin Toy said they know of no injuries involved with the toys.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should take the items away from children and return them to the retailer 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.