"NUK" brand 3-piece Toothbrush Trainer Sets
CPSC Recall #83-034 - June 13, 1983
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 83-034 |
| Recall Date | June 13, 1983 |
| Remedy Type | Dispose, Replace |
| Units Affected | Approximately 96,000 |
Product
"NUK" brand 3-piece Toothbrush Trainer Sets
Description
Washington, D.C. -- In Cooperation With The U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Reliance Products Corporation, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, announced a voluntary recall of approximately 96,000 "NUK" brand 3-piece Toothbrush Trainer Sets which present a possible choking and/or suffocation hazard to young children. The products, which retail for approximately $4.70, were distributed from May 1980 to May 1982 and bear item code #02586 on the top flap of the package.There have been 14 reported incidents where the rubber tip of the first massaging brush in the 3-Piece Set separated from the handle. While no suffocations have occurred in some instances the rubber tip reportedly had to be physically dislodged from children's throats.The product involved is in a package of 3 brushes designed to help train children in the use of a toothbrush. It has a soft rubber tip with rubber bristles which is intended for use by children between 7 and 11 months old with adult supervision. Only the first massaging brush has a tip which can separate from the handle.The massaging brush has been redesigned so that the tip cannot be removed and can be identified by a thin molded ring around the handle approximately one and one half inches below the rubber tip. The package of the improved version shows item code #02583.Consumers who have purchased the old style Toothbrush Trainer Set should discontinue using the first massaging brush which is a bullet-shaped massaging tool with soft rubber fins and projections. Consumers should either discard the massaging tool or return it for a replacement tool to Reliance Products Corporation, 108 Mason Street, P.O. Box 1220, Woonsocket, RI 82895. Details can be obtained or questions will be answered by calling Reliance on the following toll free number: 800-556-6508.Retailers who previously were notified of the voluntary recall in June 1982 and who have not removed the old style products from sale should remove them immediately and return them to Reliance at the address listed above for a full refund or replacement units. Anyone wishing additional information may contact CPSC's toll-free Hotline at the following number: 800-638-CPSC; a teletypewriter for the hearing impaired at (800) 638-8270.
Hazard
The rubber tip of the toothbrush can separate from the handle, presenting a possible choking and/or suffocation hazard to young children.
Incidents & Injuries
There have been 14 reported incidents where the rubber tip of the first massaging brush in the 3-Piece Set separated from the handle. While no suffocations have occurred in some instances the rubber tip reportedly had to be physically dislodged from children's throats.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers who have purchased the old style Toothbrush Trainer Set should discontinue using the first massaging brush which is a bullet-shaped massaging tool with soft rubber fins and projections.Consumers should either discard the massaging tool or return it for a replacement tool to Reliance Products Corporation.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose, Replace 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 (Dispose, 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.