The Recall Desk
HighCPSC·00164·Announced 2000-08-16

Playskool Recalls Busy Poppin' Pals Toys Due to Spring Choking Hazard

Playskool is recalling 420,000 Busy Poppin' Pals toys because internal springs can break loose, posing choking and laceration risks to young children.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a choking and laceration hazard with reported injuries (lacerations) but no reported deaths or hospitalizations, fitting the 'High' severity criteria for risk-of-harm products where injury has been reported but is not severe.

Plain-English summary

Playskool is recalling approximately 420,000 Busy Poppin' Pals toys sold nationwide from January 1996 through August 2000. The recall was initiated because small springs inside the toy can break loose, creating a choking and laceration hazard for young children.

The affected toy is a 13-inch-long white plastic unit with blue, yellow, and red buttons, levers, and knobs that activate pop-up animal characters. The animals include a giraffe, elephant, panda bear, lion, and monkey, hidden under colored lids numbered 1 through 5. The toy features a white carry handle, the Playskool logo on the front, and the model number 5415 with "MADE IN CHINA" imprinted on the bottom.

Playskool has received 16 reports of the springs breaking. In five instances, children placed the broken springs in their mouths, resulting in lacerations for two children. Consumers should immediately take these toys away from young children and contact Playskool at (800) 752-9755 or visit their website to receive a free, redesigned replacement toy.

The recalled product

Product
Busy Poppin' Pals toys
Manufacturer
Playskool, of Pawtucket, R.I.
Category
Consumer Product — Toys
Hazard
Affected units
420,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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