Baby Rattles Recalled Because Of Choking Hazard

Washington, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the U.S. Toy Company, Inc. of Grandview, Missouri, is recalling two models of baby rattles because they do not comply with safety requirements for rattles. When the CPSC tested these rattles they were found to have handles which are small enough to enter an infant's mouth and lodge in the throat causing a choking or suffocation hazard.

The rattles are the "Berchet Bell Rattle" and "Sunny Smile Mirror rattle". The Berchet rattle is made of yellow plastic in the shape of bell with a red striker and is approximately 6 inches long. The words "JOUETS berchet MADE IN FRANCE Diefenbach Design C 1979 Berchet" are embossed on the rattle. The yellow and blue plastic Sunny Smile Mirror Rattle is approximately 5 inches long with a round handle 1 1/4 inches in diameter at one end and a round section 3 inches in diameter at the other end with a mirror on the blue side and a smiling face on the yellow side. The Sunny Smile Mirror Rattle has no labeling on it but was packaged in a clear plastic bag with a cardboard header labeled, "Sunny Smile Mirror Rattle". Approximately 480 of the Berchet Bell Rattles and 1,872 of the Sunny Smile Mirror Rattles were distributed nationwide over the past two years.

While neither the Consumer Product Safety Commission nor U.S. Toy Co., Inc., know of any injuries involving these rattles, consumers are urged to take the rattles away from babies immediately and return them for a full refund to the retail store where they were purchased or to U.S. Toy Company, Inc., 1227 East 119th Street, Grandview, Missouri 64030.

Consumers who want additional information on this recall may call U.S. Toy Company, Inc. at 816-761-5900 or the CPSC toll-free hotline at 800-638-CPSC. A teletypewriter number for the hearing impaired is 800-638-8270.