Curious George Toy Recall

NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2001
Release #02-058

BRIO Hotline: (888) 274-6869
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Kim Dulic, (301) 504-7058
Company Media Contact: Robin Lehnert, (888) 274-6869 Ext. 3506

CPSC and BRIO® Corp. Announce Recall of Curious George Toys

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), BRIO® Corp., of Germantown, Wis., a subsidiary of BRIO AB of Sweden, is voluntarily recalling about 3,100 Curious George toys. The toys include fabric-filled mobile phones that can pose a choking hazard to young children.

CPSC and BRIO Corp. have not received any reports of injuries or incidents. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.

These Curious George monkey plush toys are dressed in a yellow plastic space suit with matching gloves. They have a detachable backpack with a red fabric-filled mobile phone attached. The small mobile phone is 1.25-inches by 1.5-inches, and is connected to a gray, mesh backpack by a 4.75-inch string sewn into one of the backpack's seams. A label in the collar of the space suit reads, "Curious George by BRIO." This is an "Activity George," which is written on the packaging, and is labeled for children ages 18 months and older. The back of the box reads: "Removable backpack with mobile phone!" The recalled toy has model number 32900 written on the front of the box.

Specialty toy stores, Internet retailers, and mail order catalogs sold the recalled Curious George toys nationwide from July 2001 through November 2001 for about $25.

Consumers should take these toys away from children immediately and call BRIO to get a refund or replacement toy. For more information, contact BRIO toll-free at (888) 274-6869 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or go to the firm's web site at www.briotoy.com. Consumers also can send the toy to BRIO Corp., SAFETY RECALL, N120 W18485 Freistadt Road, Germantown, WI 53022.