Zapper toys

CPSC Recall #02-049 - November 27, 2001

Recall Summary

Recall Number02-049
Recall DateNovember 27, 2001
Remedy TypeDispose, Refund
Units AffectedAbout 15,80
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

Arcades
amusement parks and carnivals sold and distributed these toys from January 2000 through August 2001. They were sold for about $1.

Product

Zapper toys

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C.- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Manley Toy Direct, of Indianola, Iowa, is voluntarily recalling about 15,800 Zapper toys. The balloon tongues and the cylinders holding the tongues on these toys can detach, posing a choking and aspiration hazard to young children. The Promotional Resources Group of Companies Inc., of Topeka, Kan., previously recalled about 105,000 Bug Zapper toys on June 6, 2000. That company received a report of a 3-year-old boy who inhaled a balloon tongue that detached from a Zapper toy into his sinus cavity. He required medical treatment to remove the part from his nose. Additionally, eight firms recalled about 835,000 Zapper toys on March 19, 2001. The vinyl Zapper toys are about 2- to 3-inches long, and come in the shape of various animals including frogs, dinosaurs and snakes. When the toy is squeezed, the balloon tongue attached to its mouth inflates or rolls out. "CHINA" or "MADE IN CHINA" is molded into the toy. Arcades, amusement parks and carnivals sold and distributed these toys from January 2000 through August 2001. They were sold for about $1. Consumers should immediately take these toys away from young children and return the toy to the place of purchase for a refund, or throw them away. For more information, contact Manley Toy Direct at (800) 767-9998 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday to Friday.

Hazard

The balloon tongues and the cylinders holding the tongues on these toys can detach, posing a choking and aspiration hazard to young children.

Incidents & Injuries

That company received a report of a 3-year-old boy who inhaled a balloon tongue that detached from a Zapper toy into his sinus cavity. He required medical treatment to remove the part from his nose.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately take these toys away from young children and return the toy to the place of purchase for a refund, or throw them away.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose, 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 (Dispose, 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.