May
24, 2001
Raymond
Geddes & Co. Inc., of Baltimore, Md., is voluntarily recalling about 6,500
Tropical Fish and Rockin' Reptile Push'n Pop toys, which are also known as
Zapper toys. The balloon tongues and the cylinders holding the tongues on these
toys can detach, which poses choking and aspiration hazards 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, on March 19, 2001, eight firms recalled about
835,000 Zapper toys.
The
vinyl toys are about 2- to 3-inches long, and come in two different styles: a
fish and lizard. When the toy is squeezed, the balloon tongue attached to its
mouth inflates or rolls out. "MADE IN CHINA" is molded into the toy.
Toy stores, doctor and dentist offices, and carnivals and circuses sold and
distributed these toys from August 1998 through March 2001. They were sold for
about $1.
Consumers should immediately take these toys away from young children and
take them back to where they were purchased for a refund, or throw them away.
If consumers have questions, call the firm at (800) 533-6273 between 8 a.m. and
5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday,
or
visit the firm's web site at www.raymondgeddes.com. Consumers also can contact
the firm by email at consumeraffairs@raymondgeddes.com.