Sassy®- branded Hug N' Tug Puppy and Monkey and Carter's®-branded Hug N' Tug Monkey Toys
CPSC Recall #13-079 - December 19, 2012
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 13-079 |
| Recall Date | December 19, 2012 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 45,300 |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| Mass merchandisers such as Toys R Us and Target |
| independent specialty stores nationwide and online retailers such as Amazon.com and Carters.com between July 2012 and October 2012 for Sassy-branded models; and from August 2011 to October 2012 for the Carter's-branded models. Carter's-branded models were also sold in Carter's retail stores. The Sassy-branded models sold for approximately $8 and the Carter's-branded models for approximately $14. |
Product
Sassy®- branded Hug N' Tug Puppy and Monkey and Carter's®-branded Hug N' Tug Monkey Toys
Description
Beads in the toy's plastic holder can escape and be swallowed by small children. Take the toy away from children.
Hazard
The beads inside the clear plastic sphere at the center of the toys can be released and pose a choking hazard to young children.
Incidents & Injuries
The firm has received 12 reports of beads being released from the plastic clear plastic sphere body on Sassy-branded toys. There have been no such reports on the Carter's-branded toys. No injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately take the toys from children and contact Sassy for instructions on how to return the product for a free replacement toy.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a 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 (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.