CPSC, Playwell Toy Announce Recall of Xylophone Mallets
CPSC, Playwell Toy Announce Recall of Xylophone Mallets
Why was CPSC, Playwell Toy Announce Recall of Xylophone Mallets recalled?
The rounded ends of the xylophone mallets are smaller in diameter than the 1.75-inch standard for small balls. The mallets can get stuck in the throats of young children, blocking their airways, and possibly causing death.
What should I do if I have this product?
Firm no longer in business. Recall remedy no longer available. Discard the product. Do not donate or resell. Contact: The firm is out of business. Consumers should call the CPSC hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054).
What to do with a recalled product: refunds, receipts, safe disposal and how to report a problem.
Is my product affected?
Compare the item in your hand with every identifier below from the official CPSC record. Only products that match the listed product and identifiers are part of this recall.
- Product
- Individually sold xylophones, Little Ones® Infant three-piece musical gift sets, and Little Ones® Infant five-piece musical gift sets
- Company
- Right Start, Playwell Toy, Target, Kmart
- Quantity
- Approximately 200,000 individually sold xylophones, 150,000 Little Ones® Infant three-piece musical gift sets, and 1,800 Little Ones® Infant five-piece musical gift sets
- Recall date
- October 15, 1998
- Incidents / injuries
- CPSC and Playwell Toy were aware of one serious injury to a 6-month-old baby girl who suffered severe brain damage when the mallet became lodged in her throat.
- Agency
- CPSC
Product description
The xylophones are mostly white with a red button and yellow handle. The metal bars on the xylophones are red, yellow, green and blue, and the mallets are red. The individually sold xylophones have stickers on them reading, "PLAYWELL. . . SOUND TOY SERIES." Their packaging reads, "Music World Xylophone . . . Playwell . . . Item No: 044073." The three-piece Little OnesTM Infant musical gift sets consist of a toy xylophone and mallet, an accordion and a tambourine. The five-piece set consists of a xylophone, tambourine, harmonica and two maracas. All the instruments are multi-colored plastic. The sets are packaged in a box that reads, in part, "Little OnesTM Infant . . . Ages 6 Months and over . . . Hours of musical fun!" Each musical instrument has "MADE IN CHINA" printed on it.