Foam Bath Blocks Recalled

In cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the stores listed below today announced a voluntary recall of soft bath blocks they sold beginning about August, 1985. These bath blocks pose a potential danger if small children bite off pieces large enough to lodge in their throats and cause them to choke or suffocate. To date, these products are not known to have caused any such injuries.

The blocks are made of a dense foam material, come in different shapes and colors in a 20-piece set, and when wet, they stick together. 'Iccr The top of the box is labeled "20-piece set Soft Bath Blocks, Cling to Each Other. Use to Build Towers, Pyramids, Boats, Castles and More. Light enough to Float. Ages 6 months to Adult," and in smaller type, "Item #5768." The side of the box is labeled "Distributed by AMC, NY, NY 10018" or "Manufactured by Ohsawa Trading Company, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan." The blocks sell at retail for approximately $10.00. An estimated 19,000 sets have been distributed nationwide.

The stores that have sold the soft bath blocks are: Daytons-Minneapolis, Minnesota; Hudsons-Minneapolis, Minnesota; Brandeis- Omaha, Nebraska; Abraham and Strauss-Brooklyn, New York; Godchaux-Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Liberty House-Honolulu, Hawaii; Foley's-Houston, Texas; Burdines-Miami, Florida; Rich's-Atlanta, Georgia; Woodward and Lothrop- Washington, D.C.; Higbee's-Cleveland, Ohio: Bloomingdales-New York, New York; Boston Store-Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Sanger Harris-Dallas, Texas; Bullock's-Los Angeles, California; Lazarus-Columbus, Ohio; Shillito Rikes- Cincinnati, Ohio; and Hudson Bay Company-Toronto, Canada.

Consumers should remove these products from use immediately and return them by mail or in person to the retailer where purchased for a refund of the purchase price and postage or transportation costs. Anyone wishing additional information may contact the store where the product was purchased, or the CPSC toll-free hotline at 800-638-CPSC. The Commission's teletypewriter number for the hearing-impaired is 800-638-8270.