NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Palkar Recalls Plastic Building Blocks Sold In Toys "R" Us Stores

PRODUCT: Approximately 10,000 50- and 100-piece building block sets, imported from Israel. The block sets come in either primary or fluorescent (neon) colors in five different sizes. Sets were sold in a yellow or white plastic basket with a white plastic handle. Sets were sold in Toys "R" Us stores nationwide.

PROBLEM: The red "roof top" blocks in each set fail to meet the Small Parts Requirement under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act and could pose a choking hazard to young children.

WHAT TO DO: Consumers are urged to take the small red roof top blocks away from young children immediately and throw the blocks away, or mail them to: Palkar Plastics, c/o Primex International, 230 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, NY 10001 to receive 10 replacement blocks. Consumers with questions about this recall may contact Primex toll-free at 1-800-929-4754.

WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Palkar Plastics of Israel is recalling approximately 5,200 50-piece sets and 4,500 100-piece sets of building blocks. The small red roof top blocks in each set fail to meet the Small Parts Requirement under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act and could pose a choking hazard to young children. Each 50-piece set contains two red roof top blocks, and each 100-piece set contains five red roof top blocks. This recall is being handled by the firm's representative, Primex International Trading Corporation, New York, NY.

The block sets come in either primary colors or fluorescent (neon) colors in five different sizes. Each set was sold in a yellow or white plastic basket with a white plastic handle. The sets were sold nationwide in Toys "R" Us stores during 1992 for approximately $7.99 for the 50-piece set and $12.99 for the 100- piece set.

The label on the side of the baskets reads in part: "50 (or 100) Plastic Building Blocks, #50, 9 Shapes, 5 Colors, Ages 18 Mos. & Up; Made in Israel by Palkar for Primex, New York, N.Y. 10001."

Consumers are urged to take the small red roof top blocks away from young children immediately and throw the blocks away, or mail them to: Palkar Plastics, c/o Primex International, 230 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001 to receive 10 replacement blocks. Consumers with questions about this recall may contact Primex toll-free at 1-800-929-4754.

Neither the CPSC nor the company is aware of any injuries involving these blocks. This voluntary recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.

The potentially hazardous toys were reported to CPSC by the Health Services Department, State of Kentucky.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing this recall as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.6 million injuries and 21,700 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.