| Office of Information and Public Affairs | Washington, DC 20207 |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | |
| May 19, 1976 | |
| Release # 76-033 |
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 19) -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today it has provisionally accepted a consent agreement with Garb-Age, Inc., Iowa City, Iowa, a chain of retail stores, and Timothy A. Peterson individually and as an officer of the corporation.
Under the terms of the agreement the Corporation and Peterson are ordered to notify all customers who may have purchased cotton sportswear tops in their stores, distributed by Michael Miles/Peter Sinclair in styles MP 408, MP 409, MP 410, MP 425, MP 426 and MP 454, that the garments do not comply with the Standard for the Flammability of Clothing Textiles (CS 191-53) and may be dangerously flammable.
The recall involves adult unisex shirts which were sold during the late summer and fall of 1974. The garments, described as cotton pullovers in a variety of styles, colors and designs, retailed for $14-$16. The Garb-Age stores which carried these tops are located in Iowa City, Iowa; Des Moines, Iowa; Davenport, Iowa; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Overland Park, Kansas; and Lawrence, Kansas. Consumers who think they may have any of these garments should return them to the Garb-Age store where purchased.
According to the provisional agreement Garb-Age will be posting signs in each of its retail stores which carried the sportswear tops advising consumers of the recall. In addition, the stores will enclose in the monthly billing statements to charge account customers an illustration of the garment being recalled accompanied by a warning as to the potential flammability hazard. This same information will be included in newspaper advertisements having the greatest circulation for each store location. Garb-Age has the option of either replacing the non-complying garments with those in compliance or refunding the purchase price.
This agreement is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by the company that it has violated the law. Any violation of this consent agreement by Garb-Age, Inc., could result in the assessment of substantial civil penalties.
The complaint and consent order will remain on the public record for 60 days through July 18, 1976, during which time any interested person may submit comments to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207.
After considering any comments, the Commission may accept the agreement or withdraw its provisional acceptance.
For additional information about this consent order, contact the Bureau of Compliance, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207.