Butterfly Bracelets
CPSC Recall #91110 - August 12, 1991
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 91110 |
| Recall Date | August 12, 1991 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | 12,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| They were distributed through school and church carnivals and in retail stores in Colorado |
| Arizona |
| Kansas |
| and Illinois. |
Product
Butterfly Bracelets
Description
WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Western Novelty Company is voluntarily recalling approximately 12,000 Butterfly Bracelets, model number P4136, because the bracelets may break and release small parts that could be a choking or aspiration hazard to young children. The bracelets consist of yellow, orange, green and pink plastic butterflies about three eights of one inch wide, strung together on an elastic string with a black bead between each butterfly. The retail display box held over one hundred unwrapped bracelets and was labeled in part: "Stretchable Bracelets, Made in Hong Kong." The bracelets sold for approximately $.20 each. They were distributed through school and church carnivals and in retail stores in Colorado, Arizona, Kansas, and Illinois. These bracelets were imported from Hong Kong and distributed by Western Novelty Company from July 1990 through February 1991. Neither the CPSC nor the company is aware of any injuries involving this product. This voluntary recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury. Consumers are urged to take these bracelets away from young children immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund of the purchase price. Consumers may also return their bracelets to Western Novelty Company, 5670 Washington Street, Denver, Colorado 80216 for a $.50 refund check. Consumers with questions about this recall may contact Western Novelty Company at 1-800-521-5219. The potentially hazardous bracelets were identified during a joint surveillance program conducted between the CPSC and the U.S. Customs Service at the Port of Denver. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing this recall as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to help reduce the estimated 28.5 million injuries and 21,600 deaths that occur each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products within CPSC's jurisdiction.
Hazard
The bracelets may break and release small parts that could be a choking or aspiration hazard to young children.
Incidents & Injuries
Neither the CPSC nor the company is aware of any injuries involving this product. This voluntary recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers are urged to take these bracelets away from young children immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund of the purchase price. Consumers may also return their bracelets to Western Novelty Company for a $.50 refund check.
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.