CPSC, Direct Source International Announce Plastic Halloween Bucket Recall

October 24, 1996
Release # 97-009

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Direct Source International Inc. of Blue Ash, Ohio, is voluntarily recalling 11,700 packages of small plastic halloween candy buckets. Dillon Stores of Hutchinson, Kan., and CPSC found prohibited levels of lead in the black, red, and yellow paint, which peels readily from the buckets. The lead paint can cause lead poisoning in young children, who may ingest the paint from the banned buckets.

The buckets come in three styles: as orange pumpkins, white skulls, and green Frankenstein heads, measuring 2.75 inches in diameter by 2.25 inches high. They are packed six to a cellophane package with an orange cardboard header labeled on the front, "HAPPY HALLOWEEN... 6 Halloween Buckets," and on the back, bar code number "43748 88014...Direct Source International Inc...Made in China." Some of the packages also include "Item NO. FF-014" on the back of the label.

Various retail stores, including Dillon Stores and Kroger Company, sold the buckets from August 1996 to October 1996 for about $1 per package.

CPSC received one report of a child who may have ingested some of the paint from the buckets.

Consumers should take the buckets away from children immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund of the purchase price. Consumers who have questions about this recall may call Direct Source International Inc. at (513) 793-9379.

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. To order a press release through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051 from the handset of your fax machine and enter the release number. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov or via Internet gopher services at cpsc.gov. Consumers can report product hazards to info@cpsc.gov.