Rainbow Bell baby rattles, Item CT-8013

CPSC Recall #88-027 — May 10, 1988

Recall Summary

Recall Number88-027
Recall DateMay 10, 1988
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedApproximately 86,400
Manufactured InTaiwan

Product

Rainbow Bell baby rattles, Item CT-8013

Description

WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Li Peng Enterprises, Inc., Los Angeles, California, today announced the voluntary recall of Rainbow Bell baby rattles, Item CT-8013, which present a choking hazard to infants. The rattles are multicolored plastic with a handle made up of what appears to be beads at one end and 4 bell-shaped noise makers in a circle at the other end. The item is labeled, "C T Made In Taiwan". Neither Li Peng nor the Commission know of any injuries caused by these baby rattles. The rattle presents a choking hazard because the handle is small enough to enter a child's mouth and long enough to reach the back of the throat, and because the metal bell can detach from the top part of the rattle. Consumers should take the rattles away from infants immediately and return the rattles to the retail store where purchased for a full refund of the purchase price. Approximately 86,400 of the baby rattles were sold between June 1987 and August 1987 for $2.85. The rattles were identified during Operation Toyland import surveillance in the Port of Los Angeles. Operation Toyland is part of a cooperative program between U.S. Customs and the CPSC to stop non-complying hazardous toys from being distributed.

Hazard

The rattle presents a choking hazard because the handle is small enough to enter a child's mouth and long enough to reach the back of the throat, and because the metal bell can detach from the top part of the rattle.

Incidents & Injuries

Neither Li Peng nor the Commission know of any injuries caused by these baby rattles.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should take the rattles away from infants immediately and return the rattles to the retail 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.