WASHINGTON – About 4 million teddy bears, given away as a promotion for Snuggle fabric softener, pose a choking hazard and are being recalled, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Wednesday.
The U.S. unit of Anglo-Dutch consumer products giant Unilever Plc has received 32 reports of the eyes and noses coming off the bears, although no injuries were reported, the safety agency said.
One version of the stuffed bears was already recalled last year because a yellow pom-pom on its nightcap could detach.
The plush, cream-colored bears in 5-inch, 8-inch and 10-inch sizes, came with purchases of Snuggle fabric softener or were given to consumers who sent in proof of purchase of the product between May of 1997 and December of last year.
Consumers were advised by the safety commission to take the bears away from young children immediately and contact Unilever on how to receive a coupon for free fabric softener.
More information on the recall is available by calling 1-800-896-9479 or on the www.snuggletime.com Web site.
Separately, the safety commission said publisher Random House was voluntarily recalling nearly 40,000 copies of its "Monsters In the Closet" board books which have a snap that could detach and pose a choking hazard to young children.
Random House is part of German media group Bertelsmann .
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