Toy Drums, Educational Games, Children's Brooms and Bleach Recalled by Firms

NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2001
Release # 01-096c

Company Phone Number: (800) 458-0839
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Kim Dulic, (301) 504-7058

Children's Brooms Recalled by EMSCO Inc.

PRODUCT: Children's Toy Brooms - EMSCO Inc., of Girard, Pa., is voluntarily recalling about 2,200 children's toy brooms. The Ti-dee Helper brooms are about 37 inches long with a wood handle painted yellow and natural straw bristles. A silver label on the handle reads, "MADE IN MEXICO." The plastic packaging that covered the broom bristles reads, "Ti-dee Helper™ child's broom," and contains the model number "6089." Toy, discount and grocery stores sold these brooms from April 2000 through February 2001 for about $9.

PROBLEM: The paint on the handles of these brooms contain high lead levels. CPSC standards ban toys and other children's products containing high levels of lead. Young children could ingest lead from the broom handles, presenting a lead poisoning hazard.

INCIDENTS/INJURIES: None reported.

WHAT TO DO: Consumers should take these brooms away from children immediately, and return the brooms to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, call EMSCO Inc. at (800) 458-0839 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit their web site at www.emscogroup.com.

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection alerted CPSC to this product hazard.