The Recall Desk
Our severity:ModerateCPSC·78102·Announced 1978-12-08

Mattel Battlestar Galactica Space Toys Receive Safety Labels

Mattel is adding safety labels to Battlestar Galactica space toys to warn against pointing red missiles at faces or mouths.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 2/5 (Moderate).

Minor labeling or packaging issue, or a voluntary precautionary recall. Risk of harm is low but real — follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Our severity reasoning: The recall is a voluntary precautionary measure in response to reported accidents where children received medical treatment but were released, fitting the criteria for moderate severity.

Plain-English summary

Mattel, Inc. has initiated a voluntary program to attach safety labels to warehouse inventories of certain Battlestar Galactica line space toys. The affected products include the Colonial Viper, Colonial Scarab, Colonial Stellar Probe, and Cylon Raider space vehicles, which are equipped to launch small red missiles.

The action is being taken in response to reports of three accidents where children swallowed or aspirated a red missile. In each case, the child received medical treatment and was released. The new labels state: "Caution: Do Not Point Or Fire Red Missiles Into Mouth Or Toward Face."

Mattel emphasizes that the products meet or exceed all existing and proposed product safety standards. The company and the CPSC remind parents that small pieces are common in toys intended for older children and advise keeping small objects away from younger siblings.

The recalled product

Product
Mattel Colonial Viper, Scarab, Stellar Probe; Cylon Raider Battlestar Galactica space vehicles
Manufacturer
Mattel
Category
Consumer Product — Toys
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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