CPSC, Playwell Toy Announce Recall of Xylophone Mallets

October 15 , 1998
Release # 99-009

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For Immediate Release;
Contact: Nychelle Fleming
(301) 504-0580 Ext. 1192

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Playwell Toy Inc. of Lake Forest, Calif., is recalling the mallets in 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. 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.

CPSC and Playwell Toy are 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.

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 consists 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.

Target and other retail stores sold the individual xylophones from February 1996 to April 1998 for about $7. Kmart stores nationwide sold the three-piece musical set exclusively from May 1996 to April 1998 for about $10. Right Start Stores nationwide sold the five-piece musical gift set from November 1997 to August 1998 for about $24.

Consumers should take these mallets away from children under 3 years old immediately, and dispose of the mallets. To receive a replacement mallet, consumers should call Playwell Toy Inc. toll-free at (877) PLAY-WELL between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. PDT Monday through Friday or write Playwell Toys Inc., 25142 Wandering Lane, Lake Forest, CA 92630.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury and for information on CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270.