| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Ken Giles |
| January 6, 1997 | (301) 504-7052 |
| Release # 97-054 |
CPSC and Dairy Queen Recall Toy Water Batons
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), International Dairy Queen Inc. (IDQ) of Minneapolis, Minn., is voluntarily recalling 150,000 toy water batons distributed with kids meals. When a child sucks or chews on the baton's end-cap, the cap can come off releasing small, plastic balls from inside the baton. The end-cap and the balls present a choking hazard to young children.IDQ has received eight reports of the baton's end-cap coming off. No injuries have been reported.
The toy water baton is a clear plastic rod, measuring 9 inches long, with glitter and blue, purple, and green balls floating in water inside of the baton. There are purple caps on each end of the baton, and "Dairy Queen" is printed on the rod.
The toy batons were distributed with kids meals at Dairy Queen stores nationwide from June through October 1996.
Consumers should immediately take these toy batons away from young children, and return them to their local Dairy Queen store. Dairy Queen stores are offering consumers a free kids meal or ice cream sundae for each baton returned. For more information, consumers may call IDQ at 1-800-956-9565.
