The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighCPSC·01182·Announced 2001-07-02

Chicco Build-A-Ball Toys Recalled for Suffocation Risk

Chicco USA Inc. is recalling Build-A-Ball toys because large ball halves can stick to a child's face, covering the nose and mouth.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

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 risk-of-harm product (suffocation) where injury has not yet been reported, fitting the High severity criteria.

Plain-English summary

Chicco USA Inc. is recalling approximately 6,000 Build-A-Ball toys sold in the United States. The toy consists of five multi-colored plastic balls, ranging from 2 to 4 inches in diameter, that can be stacked or nested. The packaging indicates the toy is for children ages 1-3 or 1-4 years.

The recall was issued because some of the larger-sized ball halves can become stuck on a young child's face, covering the nose and mouth, which can cause suffocation. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) received one report of a 2-year-old boy who had a ball-half stuck on his face. A nearby adult was able to pull the toy from the child's face, and no injury was reported.

The toys were sold at Amazon.com, Army & Air Force Exchanges, and other toy stores nationwide from January 1999 through April 2001 for about $6. Parents and caregivers should take these balls away from young children immediately and return the toys to the store where purchased for a refund.

The recalled product

Product
Build-A-Ball toy
Manufacturer
Chicco USA Inc., of Bound Brook, N.J.
Category
Consumer Product — Toys
Hazard
Affected units
6,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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