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Gabriel "Giggle Stick"

CPSC Recall #79-056 - October 2, 1979

Recall Summary

Recall Number79-056
Recall DateOctober 2, 1979
Remedy TypeRefund, Replace

Product

Gabriel "Giggle Stick"

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 3) -- CBS Toys, a division of CBS, Inc., of New York City, is voluntarily recalling four million units of a toy which may pose a choking hazard to children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced. The toy, called the Gabriel "Giggle Stick", consists of a hollow, yellow plastic tube which, when shaken, produces noises by means of a metal reed fastened inside an interior plastic cylinder. Young children can remove the red end-caps of the toy, exposing the interior plastic cylinder which houses the small reed inside. Some reeds have fallen out of those "Giggle Sticks" designed with open-end caps. Since March, 1979, three children have choked on the reeds, according to CBS Toys. No injuries have resulted. The "Giggle Sticks" have been manufactured since December, 1978, and sold in variety stores nationwide for less than $2. The toys are advertised as suitable for children ages 3 and older. Parents should return the toys to their retailers for a refund or a new "Giggle Stick" which has been redesigned to eliminate the safety hazard. Consumers also can receive a refund or a new "Giggle Stick" by mailing their used ones to: Gabriel Industries, Longmeadow Road, P.O. Box 980, Hagerstown, Maryland, 21740. In retail stores, consumers can identify a redesigned "Giggle Stick" by looking for the words, "New, Improved" on the red cardboard flag wrapped around the toy.

Hazard

Young children can remove the red end-caps of the toy, exposing the interior plastic cylinder which houses the small reed inside. Some reeds have fallen out of those "Giggle Sticks" designed with open-end caps, posing a choking hazard for children.

Incidents & Injuries

Since March, 1979, three children have choked on the reeds, according to CBS Toys. No injuries have resulted.

Remedy Instructions

Parents should return the toys to their retailers for a refund or a new "Giggle Stick" which has been redesigned to eliminate the safety hazard. Consumers also can receive a refund or a new "Giggle Stick" by mailing their used ones to: Gabriel Industries, Longmeadow Road, P.O. Box 980, Hagerstown, Maryland, 21740.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund, Replace 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, Replace) 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.

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