Highchairs and toys recalled over safety fears

MORE than 3,000 Fisher-Price toys and highchairs are being withdrawn in Ireland because they may pose a danger to children.

The product recall includes a range of toys with inflatable balls that pose a choking hazard because the valve can come off.

The highchairs are being recalled because children can fall on or against the pegs on the back legs used to store the tray, resulting in cuts and other injuries.

Purple and green toy cars are being recalled because the wheels can come off, releasing small parts that may pose a choking hazard to young children.

The National Consumer Agency (NCA) is advising parents to stop using Fisher-Price products if they are worried and to contact the company’s British-based helpline.

The NCA said details of the affected products are on its website – www.consumerconnect.ie.

The recall in Ireland and Britain is part of a wider US-led recall of more than 10 million products.

The US recall of tricycles is in response to 10 reports of children being hurt, with six requiring medical attention. A Mattel spokesperson pointed out that Britain andIreland did not stock the trikes.

The highchairs affected in Ireland are the Basic Healthy Care Cow and Moon, Flutterby Dream, Aquarium Healthy Care and Link Deluxe Healthy Care. About 801 of the highchairs were sold by major retailers between September 2001 and September 2010. About 1,390 products with the potentially hazardous inflatable balls were sold in Ireland between July 2001 and July 2008.

The products include Baby Playzone Crawl and Cruise Playground, Baby Playzone Crawl and Slide Arcade, Baby Gymtastics Play Wall, Ocean Wonders Kick and Crawl Aquarium and 1-2-3 Tetherball and Bat and Score Goal.

A further 936 Little People Wheelies Stand ‘n’ Play Rampway toys sold between April 2010 to September 2010 have been recalled.

A spokesperson for Fisher-Price said they wanted to reassure parents that their products were “overwhelmingly safe”, pointing out that they operated in a highly regulated industry and tested their products at many stages during development.

Fisher-Price has set up a helpline 0044 1628 500303 to provide more information and details are also on www.service.mattel.com.uk.