Lisa Frank Halloween Erasers

CPSC Recall #90-166 - October 29, 1990

Recall Summary

Recall Number90-166
Recall DateOctober 29, 1990
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedApproximately 200,000
Manufactured InTaiwan

Product

Lisa Frank Halloween Erasers

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Lisa Frank, Inc., of Tucson, AZ, has voluntarily elected to recall approximately 200,000 packages of its colorful Halloween Erasers which may pose a choking hazard to small children. These multi-colored Halloween Erasers are sold 15 to a package. The front of the package reads: "Lisa Frank Halloween Erasers, Cool Collectibles." The erasers resemble Halloween items such as pumpkins, skulls, bats and ghosts and because of their bright colors and size could be mistaken for candy. The erasers were imported from Taiwan. While the package is labeled "Not Recommended for Children 4 Years of Age and Under", it was the concern of Lisa Frank, Inc. and CPSC that people handing out the erasers as Trick-or-Treat handouts would give them to small children. The small erasers are not appropriate for younger children. The packages of erasers sold for approximately $1.89 each. This is the second Halloween season the erasers have been distributed nationwide, and neither CPSC nor Lisa Frank, Inc., are aware of any injuries involving this product. It is believed that the erasers would not be given out until the night of Halloween, so this voluntary recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury. Consumers are urged not to use these erasers as Halloween handouts. Consumers may return the product to the store where purchased for a full refund of the purchase price. Consumers with questions about this recall may contact Lisa Frank, Inc., at 602-624-1903. CPSC reminds adults to carefully examine any toy or novelty items received by trick-or-treaters under three years of age. Do not allow young children to have any items that are small enough to present a choking hazard or that have small parts or components that could separate during use and present a choking hazard. This reminder is for parents and anyone handing out such items to trick-or-treaters. The CPSC is announcing this recall as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumers products. The CPSC is the Federal agency responsible for product safety. Some 15,000 products fall within the Commission's jurisdiction and each year these products are involved in an estimated 30 million injuries and 22,000 deaths.

Hazard

The erasers may pose a choking hazard to small children.

Incidents & Injuries

Neither CPSC nor Lisa Frank, Inc., are aware of any injuries involving this product.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers are urged not to use these erasers as Halloween handouts. Consumers may return the product to the store where purchased for a full refund of the purchase price.

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.