Federal Agency: 3 Million Chinese-Made Toys Recalled Across US After Deaths Reported

A child looks at toys in a file photo. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

More than 3.2 million Chinese-manufactured Calico Critters toys that are sold via Amazon and Walmart were recalled Friday after two young children died, according to a notice published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The company that imported the Calico Critters products to the United States said that it is aware of three incidents, including the deaths of a 9-month-old and a 2-year-old. The notice said that toys that were sold in a set with a pacifier and baby bottle pose a serious choking hazard, prompting the recall.

One fatal incident occurred in 2018 in New Mexico, involving the 2-year-old. The other incident led to the death of the 9-month-old in Japan, according to the CPSC notice.

Epoch Everlasting Play, based in New Jersey, imports the made-in-China products, according to the CPSC. Epoch Everlasting has no affiliation with The Epoch Times or Epoch Media Group.

The now-recalled Calico Critter sets were sold via Amazon and Calico Critter’s website, as well as at Walmart and Meijer between January 2000 until December 2021. The toys cost between $10 and $80, said the notice.

One of the recalled Calico Critter toys. US CPSC

Consumers should “immediately take” the recalled bottle and pacifier set away from children, the notice said. Then, they can contact Epoch Everlasting Play LLC for details on how to submit a photo of the recalled bottle or pacifier.

“This recall involves all Calico Critters flocked animal figures and sets sold with bottle and pacifier accessories,” it said, adding, “The bottle accessories were sold in yellow, pink, blue and orange colors. One style of the bottle has two yellow handles. The pacifier accessories were sold in yellow, orange, pink, dark pink, blue and teal colors.”

Created in Japan in the 1980s, Calico Critters are small figurines that depict rabbits, squirrels, kittens, and other animals that are popular with children. Many of the recalled sets appear to be twin baby animal figurines sold with pacifiers and bottles.

The toy company included a full list of its recalled products and associated item codes on its website. It also created a request form for consumers to submit a photo, register, and request a replacement.

Those who wish to directly contact the company can call [phone] Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET. They can email the firm at [email protected].

Other Recent Recalls

On Thursday, the product regulation agency said Yeti has recalled some 1.9 million coolers and gear cases because magnets can come detached from them, posing a health risk. Consumers should immediately stop using the four recalled products, it said.

And more than a week ago, the CPSC posted a notice announcing the recall of about 2 million Cosori air fryers due to a possible fire risk. In a Feb. 23 bulletin, consumers were urged to “should immediately stop” using the recalled air fryers and contact the company for a replacement.

“The firm has received 205 reports of the air fryers catching fire, burning, melting, overheating and smoking. These include 10 reports of minor, superficial burn injuries and 23 reports of minor property damage,” according to the CPSC.

In a separate notice, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the recall of even more lots of eye drops due to the risk of the product being contaminated with a type of bacteria. Pharmedica USA LLC is voluntarily recalling two lots of its Purely Soothing, 15 percent MSM Drops due to a problem with sterility, the FDA said.

Several other firms have recalled eye drops, too, in recent days. An alert issued on March 1 said about 61 people have been infected with a drug-resistant strain of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria associated with eye medication and drops across about a dozen U.S. states.