CPSC, BRIO(r) Corporation and Small World Toys Announce Recall of Snail Pull Toy

July 25, 2002 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), BRIO(r) Corp., of Germantown, Wis., a subsidiary of BRIO AB of Sweden, and Small World Toys of Culver City, Calif., are voluntarily recalling about 3,000 Plan Toys pull-along snails. The eyes on the pull toy can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

CPSC, BRIO(r) and Small World Toys are not aware of any incidents or injuries involving the pull toy. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.

The recalled Plan Toys pull-along snail is a bright green, yellow and red wooden pull toy. The snail measures 10-inches long and 4-inches high and is pulled by a nylon string attached to the underside of the toy. On the snail head are two yellow protruding pegs that extend about 1- inch from the body. The pegs are painted black and white to depict eyeballs. A stamp on the bottom of the head displays the Plan Toys logo and the words "Made in Thailand."

Specialty toy stores, Internet retailers and mail order catalogs sold the recalled pull-along snails nationwide from June 2001 through June 2002 for about $15.

Consumers should take these pull toys away from children immediately and call BRIO(r) for a refund. For more information, consumers can contact BRIO(r) at (888) 274-6869 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm's web site at www.briotoy.com Consumers should return the recalled pull toys to BRIO Corp., SAFETY RECALL - Snail, N120 W18485 Freistadt Road, Germantown, Wis. 53022.

CPSC, Lauri(r) Inc. Announce Recall of Toddler Activity Sets and Puzzles

July 25, 2002 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Lauri(r) Inc. of Phillips-Avon, Maine, is voluntarily recalling about 110,000 "Toddler ToteTM" toddler activity sets and about 11,000 "Familiar Things" toddler puzzles. The dog puzzle included with both of these products and the rubber handle on the box of the activity set can tear apart into small pieces and pose a choking hazard to small children.

CPSC and Lauri Inc. have not received any reports of incidents or injuries with these puzzles or handles. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.

The "Toddler Tote" travel activity sets have three animal puzzles, seven stacker pegs of various colors, a geometric shapes puzzle and four basic shape mini-puzzles. All the contents are packaged in a blue box with a rubber handle that acts as a carrying tote. The 9-inch square box has "Lauri" and "LR-2116" written on it.

The puzzle set is called "Familiar Things." It is a boxed set of 12 two-piece puzzles. The puzzles include cut-outs of fish, planes, boats and cars. The purple box has "First Puzzles for Little Ones" and "LR-2113" written on it.

Specialty toy stores, web retailers and school supply catalogs sold the recalled puzzle and activity sets from January 1999 to July 2002. Toddler Totes were sold for about $15 and Familiar Things were sold for about $20.

Consumers should take these toys away from children immediately and call Lauri for free replacement pieces. For more information, contact Lauri toll-free at (800) 451-0520 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

CPSC, Small World Toys Announce Recall of Sorter Toys

July 25, 2002 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Small World Toys of Culver City, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 880 sorter toys. The plastic windows on the "see-inside" sorting blocks can break, causing the beads inside to be released. This presents a choking hazard to children.

Small World has received one report of a sorter block breaking. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled "Sort & See" sorting box is made of hardwood and comes with eight shaped blocks of various colors. Each block is filled with beads that are visible through plastic windows. The wooden box has a clear plastic top and cutouts on two sides that correspond with the shapes of the blocks. The words "Ryan's Room" is printed on one side of the sorter box.

Toy stores sold the sorters nationwide from May 2002 through June 2002 for about $20.

Consumers should take the recalled shape sorters away from children immediately and return the toys to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, consumers can contact Small World Toys toll-free at (800) 421-4153 between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit the firm's web site at www.smallworldtoys.com

CPSC, Radio Flyer Inc. Announce Recall to Replace Steering Wheel on Toy Car

July 25, 2002 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Radio Flyer Inc., of Chicago, Ill., is voluntarily recalling to replace the steering wheel on about 59,000 Model 8 Roadsters manufactured before January 2002. A child can pull the horn from the steering wheel, and a small part inside poses a choking hazard to young children.

Radio Flyer has received 19 reports of horns detaching from the steering wheel. No injuries have been reported. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.

The Model 8 Roadster is about 26- inches long with a red steel body and a red rubber horn on a black steering wheel. The words "Radio Flyer" and the number "8" appear on both sides of the riding toy.

Roadsters included in this recall have a date of manufacture of 12/2001 or earlier and have a "horn symbol" embossed on the red rubber horn. A label with the date of manufacture is located on the bottom of the Roadster. The label has the letters "MD" followed by a date code that represents the month and year of manufacture (for example, MD 12/2001 is for a manufacture date of December 2001).

Toy stores, discount stores, catalogues and web retailers sold the Model 8 Roadsters nationwide between January 2001 and July 2002 for about $70.

Consumers should take these Roadsters from young children immediately and contact Redwagons to order a replacement steering wheel. Consumers can contact Redwagons at (800) 708-9246 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit Radio Flyer's web site at www.radioflyer.com and complete an order form. For more information, consumers can contact Radio Flyer at (800) 621-7613 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

Model 8 Roadsters manufactured after January 2002 are not involved in this recall. Model 8 Roadsters with a star embossed on the horn, even if manufactured in 2001, have been re-designed and are not included in this recall.