FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 1997
Release # 98-024
Company Phone Number: (888) 274-6869 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Nychelle Fleming, (301) 504-7063
CPSC, BRIO Announce Recall of Wooden Clown Toys to Replace
Hats
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
replacing the hats on about 79,000 wooden clown toys. The
hats present a potential choking hazard to young children.
BRIO has received one report of a 22-month-old child in
Germany reportedly choking to death on the clown's hat. No
other injuries or complaints have been reported.
The clown is a 9-inch high wooden stacking toy
consisting of 12 brightly colored pieces, including the
base. When all of the pieces are stacked in order, the toy
resembles the figure of a clown with a yellow cone-shaped
hat. The words, "BRIO...MADE IN SWEDEN" are stamped on the
bottom of the toy's base. The toy is packaged in a red,
white and yellow cardboard box. Pictures of the toy, model
number 30130 and the words "BRIO...CLOWN" appear on the box.
Specialty stores and mail order catalogs nationwide
sold the toy from 1977 through September 1997, most recently
for about $19. BRIO clown toys currently being sold have the
redesigned hat and are in boxes labeled, "CONTAINS NEW HAT
DESIGN."
Consumers should take the clown's hat away from
children immediately and send the hat to BRIO Corp., N120
W18485 Freistadt Road, Germantown, WI 53022. BRIO will send
consumers a redesigned replacement hat and postage
reimbursement. Consumers with questions should call BRIO
toll-free at (888) 274-6869 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CST
Monday through Friday.