CPSC and Walgreens Announce Hand Candle Recall

November 6, 1996
Release #97-019

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For Immediate Release;
Contact: Hannah Simone
(301) 504-0580 Ext. 1185

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), East West Distributing Co. and Walgreens of Deerfield, Ill., is recalling about 95,900 hand-shaped, five finger Decorative Novelty Candles made for Halloween. The hand-shaped wax candles generate high flames that may present a fire hazard.

This recall is the third issued by CPSC and candle distributors concerning the potential fire hazard associated with certain brands of the five finger, hand shaped Halloween candles. Recalls of two similarly styled candles were issued by Russ Berrie and Company of Oakland, N.J., (for 17,600 Dem Bones and 67,600 Glowing Gore wax candles) and C.R. Seasons LTD of Farmingdale, N.Y., (for 47,100 Bleeding Hand wax candles).

The Decorative Novelty Halloween Candle is hand shaped with five fingers each having individual wicks. The candle flames may reach 8 inches high as the candles melt down to the palm with the wicks of the five fingers burning together. East West Distributing Co. and Walgreens have received no reports of excess flames or injuries associated with the Bleeding Hand Halloween candles. This recall is being conducted to prevent injuries and fires.

The hand-shaped wax candle is pink skin-toned color with a red band around the bottom of the wrist. The 7-inch high candle is packaged in a purple, red, and yellow-shaded cardboard box with a picture of the candle on the front. The name "Decorative Novelty Candle" is printed on the front of the box with the price of $2.99 in the upper right hand corner.. Walgreens retail stores sold the five finger, hand-shaped candle nationwide from August 1996 through October 1996 for $2.99.

Consumers should immediately stop using the hand-shaped candles and return remaining candles to Walgreens for a refund of the purchase price. For more information consumers should call East West Distributing Co. or Walgreens at (800)289-2273.

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.