Atlanta Novelty Squeeze Me Bear Toy Animals

Squeeze Me Bear Toy Animals Recalled by Atlanta Novelty NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 3, 1980 Release # 80-041 "Squeeze Me Bear" Toy Animals Recalled To Eliminate Safety Hazards WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 3) -- A children's stuffed animal sold nationwide as the "Squeeze Me Bear" is being recalled by the importer in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission because the toy may present safety hazards which could injure young children. An estimated 53,000 Squeeze Me Bears have been sold since 1979 at retail Prices averaging from $7 to $8 each. The toy bears were manufactured in Taiwan and distributed to various toy stores and other retail outlets by the Atlanta Novelty Co. of Long Island City, New York. The potentially hazardous toys bear the product code number of either 291 or 298. Testing by CPSC of a random sample of the bears showed that one of the bears contained a potentially hazardous sharp wire in the stuffing, leading CPSC staff to believe that a significant portion of the other Squeeze Me Bears in stores and consumers homes also may contain such wires; a similar recall of another importer's brand of stuffed animals was initiated less than a month ago. The potential danger lies in the possibility that the wire may work its through the bear's fur. So far there have been no injuries reported to CPSC. In addition, during CPSC testing which simulated normal use and abuse of the toy by a young child, some noses of the bears fell off, thus posing a potential choking hazard to young children. Accordingly, these stuffed toys have been determined to be "banned hazardous substances" under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act. Consumers are being urged to return their Squeeze Me Bears to the retailer where the toy was purchased for a full refund. The distributor will alert each of its customers to the hazards and the procedures to be followed in carrying out the recall. The distributor has ceased making further shipments of this stuffed toy.