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Velvety-Textured Chenille Sweaters

CPSC Recall #97-016 - October 29, 1996

Recall Summary

Recall Number97-016
Recall DateOctober 29, 1996
Remedy TypeRefund
Units Affected26,240

Where It Was Sold

JCPenney retail stores and the JCPenney 1996 Christmas Catalog sold the sweaters nationwide from September 1996 to October 1996 for about $29 to $36.

Product

Velvety-Textured Chenille Sweaters

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), J.C. Penney Company Inc. (JCPenney) of Plano, Texas, is voluntarily recalling 26,240 velvety-textured chenille sweaters, which could present a risk of serious burn injuries if exposed to an open flame. JCPenney reported that the sweaters fail the flammability regulation under the federal Flammable Fabrics Act. If the sweaters catch on fire, they can burn as fast as newspaper. The sweaters, made of 67 percent rayon and 33 percent nylon, come in short or long-sleeved styles in the colors: apple (kiwi or lime green), black, dark brown (chocolate), forest green, fuschia, ivory, plum, red, and royal. The sweaters involved in this recall are sold in the JCPenney retail stores as lot numbers 642-1410 and 642-1411 and in the JCPenney 1996 Christmas Catalog as lot number 542-0971. The lot numbers for the sweaters sold in the retail stores can be found on the JCPenney price tag below the bar code or by referring to the customer's sales slip. The lot numbers for the sweaters sold through the JCPenney Christmas Catalog can be found on page 89 as item "D" or by referring to the shipping information. JCPenney imported the sweaters from Matsue Industries Co. Ltd. of Hong Kong selling them under the brand name "M B MIXED BLUES CLOTHING CO." The sewn-in care label has the RN number 93677 on the front and the supplier number 701524 on the back. JCPenney retail stores and the JCPenney 1996 Christmas Catalog sold the sweaters nationwide from September 1996 to October 1996 for about $29 to $36. Consumers should not wear the sweaters and should return them for a full refund or credit to any JCPenney retail store. If the purchase was a catalog sale, return the sweater to the catalog desk at any JCPenney retail store or refer to page 475 of the JCPenney 1996 Christmas Catalog for returns or exchanges by mail. For more information or assistance, consumers should call JCPenney at (800) 709-5777. Direct media inquiries for JCPenney to Duncan Muir at (972) 431-1329. JCPenney and CPSC are not aware of any injuries involving this product. This recall is being conducted to prevent injuries.

Hazard

The sweaters present a risk of serious burn injuries if exposed to an open flame. JCPenney reported that the sweaters fail the flammability regulation under the federal Flammable Fabrics Act. If the sweaters catch on fire, they can burn as fast as newspaper.

Incidents & Injuries

JCPenney and CPSC are not aware of any injuries involving this product. This recall is being conducted to prevent injuries.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should not wear the sweaters and should return them for a full refund or credit to any JCPenney retail store.

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.

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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.

If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident, they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

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.

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