Honkers Doll
CPSC Recall #85-037 - August 4, 1985
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 85-037 |
| Recall Date | August 4, 1985 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | Approximately 144,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| Retail stores nationwide and through Public Television Stations in New York |
| Philadelphia and as promotional items. |
Product
Honkers Doll
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Aviva Hasbro, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro Inc., Pawtucket, Rhode Island, today announced a voluntary recall of its Sesame Street Honkers plush doll because the toy has small parts which could present a choking hazard.When the Honkers dolls were tested for compliance with the CPSC small parts requirement, the eyes came off. The detached eyes are small parts that could present a choking, ingestion or aspiration hazard to children. The CPSC and Aviva Hasbro, Inc., do not know of any injuries involving the Honkers doll.The Honkers doll is made of deep pink, orange or purple plush fabric and has a large pink or yellow plastic nose, black and white eyes, yellow plastic ears shaped like horns, and a black fabric mouth. The doll is approximately 9 inches tall. A sewn on label reads in part, "HASBRO INDUSTRIES INC. SESAME STREET. . . 1983 HUPPETS, INC. . . 100% Polyester Fibers. MADE IN CHINA H-15 . ." Approximately 144,000 Honkers dolls were distributed from 6-30-83 to 2-13-85 through retail stores nationwide and through Public Television Stations in New York, Philadelphia and ston as promotional items.Consumers should remove these toys from use immediately and return them for a refund directly to Aviva Hasbro, Inc., P.O. Box 1060, I 4 Pawtucket, Rhode Island 02862. Retailers and distributors who carried the Honkers should contact Aviva Hasbro, Inc., to arrange for the disposition of the toys. For further information about this recall, consumers may call Aviva Hasbro, Inc., at 800-556-6515 or 401-726-4100 or the CPSC's toll free Hotline at 800-638-CPSC. The teletypewriter number for the hearing impaired is (800) 638-8270.
Hazard
The Sesame Street Honkers plush doll has small parts which could present a choking hazard.
Incidents & Injuries
The CPSC and Aviva Hasbro, Inc., do not know of any injuries involving the Honkers doll.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should remove these toys from use immediately and return them 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.
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.