CPSC, Atico International Announce Recall of "Eyeball" and Smiley Face Floating Balls

Arpil 8, 1998
Release # 98-092

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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), Atico International USA, Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is recalling about 329,000 Halloween Floating Eyeballs and about 100,000 Smiley Face Floating Balls. These balls contain kerosene. If the ball cracks or breaks, kerosene leaking out could poison young children if swallowed. The smaller of these balls also present a serious choking hazard to young children. They lack warning labels required for small balls.

CPSC and Atico International USA, Inc. are not aware of any injuries involving these balls. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.

All of the Smiley Face balls are 1.5 inches in diameter. They are yellow with black features. The Halloween Eyeballs were sold in two sizes. They measure either 1.5 or 2.25 inches in diameter. They are white with different colored irises and red streaks (resembling bloodshot eyes). All the balls float in kerosene inside a clear outer ball, and are labeled "MADE IN TAIWAN."

These balls were sold nationwide by retail chain stores such as Arbor Drug, Eckerd Drugs, Thrift Drugs, K&B, Inc and Walgreen drug stores from June 1995 through October 1997 for about $1.

Consumers should take these balls away from children immediately and return them to the store where they were purchased for a refund. For more information, contact Atico International USA toll free at (800) 645-3867, extension 541. Consumers will hear a recording asking them to leave their name and number, and an Atico International USA representative will return their call.

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. To establish a link from your web site to this press release on CPSC's web site, create a link to the following address: www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml97/97092.html.