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Wooden Armadillo and Turtle

CPSC Recall #96092 — April 1, 1996

Recall Summary

Recall Number96092
Recall DateApril 1, 1996
Remedy TypeRefund, Replace
Units Affected42,000

Where It Was Sold

Six retailers
including The Nature Company stores
sold the armadillos and turtles nationwide from May 1995 to February 1996 for between $4 and $14 each.

Product

Wooden Armadillo and Turtle

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC, The Americas Company of San Francisco, Calif., is recalling approximately 42,000 wooden armadillos and turtles. The products are hazardous because they contain a level of lead in the painted surface that violates the law and is dangerous to children if consumed. The wooden armadillos and turtles, with bodies measuring between one and four inches long, are made of dried gourds and are painted in various colors and patterns. The armadillos and turtles have movable heads and the larger armadillos also have movable tails. A sticker on the bottom of the armadillos and turtles reads, "Hecho En Mexico" ("Made in Mexico"). The large armadillos' hang tags read, "Folk Art *** The Nature Company, Berkeley, CA *** sku #696807 *** Item 696807 *** $14.00/xxx." Six retailers, including The Nature Company stores, sold the armadillos and turtles nationwide from May 1995 to February 1996 for between $4 and $14 each. Consumers should immediately take the armadillos and turtles away from children and return the items to the store where purchased for a full refund or exchange. Consumers can also return armadillos and turtles with proof of purchase directly to The Americas Company, 1977 Union Street, San Francisco, Calif. 94123. The Americas Co. will exchange the product for a new one that meets CPSC standards. For more information, consumers should call The Americas at (800) ARTIFAX (278-4329) between 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday. The Americas and CPSC are not aware of any injuries involving these products. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury. This matter came to CPSC's attention as a result of a referral from the Texas Department of Health, Austin, Texas.

Hazard

 The products are hazardous because they contain a level of lead in the painted surface that violates the law and is dangerous to children if consumed.

Incidents & Injuries

The Americas and CPSC are not aware of any injuries involving these products. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately take the armadillos and turtles away from children and return the items to the store where purchased for a full refund or exchange. Consumers can also return armadillos and turtles with proof of purchase directly to The Americas Company, 1977 Union Street, San Francisco, Calif. 94123.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund, Replace 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, Replace) at no cost to you.

Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.

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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