The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighCPSC·80039·Announced 1980-10-31

Daekor Pot Belly Toy Animals Recalled for Choking and Laceration Hazards

Hudson Brands is recalling millions of Pot Belly stuffed animals due to sharp wires and crushed walnut shells that pose choking and laceration risks to young children.

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 choking and laceration hazards for young children, which fits the rubric for 'risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported.' The source explicitly states there have been no reports of serious injuries to date.

Plain-English summary

Hudson Brands, Ltd., through its Daekor division, is recalling more than five million "Pot Belly" stuffed toy animals in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The recall covers five different types of the toys, which have been sold nationwide since late 1978. These toys were distributed to over 2,800 retailers, including toy stores and department stores.

The recall was initiated because CPSC testing revealed that a substantial percentage of the toys contained sharp wires in the stuffing, which could cause lacerations. Additionally, some toys failed CPSC regulations designed to prevent children under three from choking on small parts. The "bean bag" variety of smaller Pot Bellies presents an additional hazard, as their bottoms are stuffed with crushed walnut shells that could be swallowed if the seams come apart. While CPSC received consumer complaints about protruding wires, there have been no reports of serious injuries to date.

Consumers should return their Pot Belly stuffed animals to the retailer where they were purchased for a full refund or replacement. Refunds only are being offered for the bean bag variety. Hudson Brands is alerting retailers to the hazards and will inspect all further shipments to ensure no wires are present in the stuffing. Approximately 5,000 large 40-inch koala and brown bears manufactured by a different company are not subject to this recall.

The recalled product

Product
Hudson Brands (Daekor Division) Bean Bag Pot Belly Toy Animals
Manufacturer
Hudson Brands
Category
Consumer Product — Toys
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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