The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighCPSC·79060·Announced 1979-10-26

Western Publishing Recalls Soft Shot Star Launcher Blow-Gun Toys

Western Publishing is recalling approximately 180,000 Soft Shot Star Launcher blow-gun toys due to a choking hazard where the mouthpiece may separate and lodge in a child's throat.

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 choking hazard with reported incidents of the mouthpiece lodging in children's throats, but the source explicitly states that no critical injury or illness resulted, fitting the High severity criteria for risk-of-harm products where serious injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

Western Publishing Company of Racine, Wisconsin, is voluntarily recalling approximately 180,000 "Soft Shot Star Launcher" blow-gun toys in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The toys consist of a white plastic tube and mouthpiece, measuring approximately 29 inches in length, and are sold with three small cardboard targets and three orange darts made of soft vinyl. Model number 4990 is printed on the packaging, though the toy itself lacks distinguishing identification.

The recall is being conducted due to consumer reports of three children choking on the toy's mouthpiece since July 1979. In each reported instance, the mouthpiece reportedly separated from the plastic tube and lodged in the child's throat. The company stated that no critical injury or illness resulted from these incidents. A fourth similar incident has been reported to the CPSC and is under investigation. The toys were sold for approximately $2 in toy stores and other variety retail stores nationwide earlier in 1979.

Parents should stop using the toys and return them to the retailer from which they were purchased to receive a cash refund. Consumers may also obtain refunds, including reimbursement for postage costs, by mailing the toys to Western Publishing Company, 1220 Mound Avenue, Racine, Wisconsin, 53404, Attention: Customer Relations Director.

The recalled product

Product
Soft Shot Star Launcher blow-gun toys
Manufacturer
Western Publishing
Category
Consumer Product — Toys
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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