In Cold Storage : Safety: Ventura-based Patagonia sportswear firm recalls 3,000 penguin dolls over fears the plastic eyes may be a hazard to children. Entire line is pulled off shelves, though no injuries are reported.
They have a cute name and come in trendy colors such as eggplant and Prussian blue.
But be warned: Patagonia’s stuffed penguin toys could be hazardous to your health.
The Ventura-based sportswear company announced Thursday it is recalling all 3,000 soft, squishy “Penguino” dolls because they have plastic eyes that determined children could potentially yank off and attempt to swallow.
No one has choked on a plastic penguin’s eye yet, company officials emphasize, but rather than wait and see, they are pulling the entire line off the shelves immediately.
“Although no injuries have been reported to us or the Consumer Product Safety Commission,” said Lu Setnicka, Patagonia’s director of public affairs, “we reported the potential hazard to them in order to prevent possible future injuries.”
Those who already own a Penguino are being urged to ship it back immediately to Patagonia’s headquarters on Colt Street. The company will reimburse customers for their shipping costs and will also send them a $25 gift certificate.
The eye-popping stuffed animals--one of only two toys Patagonia has ever sold, --retailed for $18, officials said, adding that it is the first time the company has issued a recall.
The company began selling the toy last July, through both its mail-order children’s catalogue and at company-owned stores. Made of yarn and a polar fleece spun from recycled soda bottles, Penguinos sold in eight colors--light plum, sea green, Prussian blue, teal green, bluegrass, red-violet, eggplant and cobalt.
About a foot tall, the oblong creatures sport bright yellow bills and feet, and come adorned with wispy, fly-away white eyebrows that give them a comical look of perpetual confusion. Their bottoms are stuffed with tree fibers, allowing them to stand upright.
Penguinos also have round, brown, plastic eyes with big black pupils. The ornaments have black plastic screws in back that attach them to the toy’s head. Patagonia officials fear that one strong tug at the eyes and they may snap out.
Patagonia officials said at least six customers have returned Penguinos since December because of this problem. And because of poor communication, top officials did not learn of the defect until last week, when an employee at a company store reported that a Penguino’s eye plopped off while she was restocking the shelves, officials said.
Company officials said the communication problems have since been corrected.
Finished with penguin dolls for the moment, Patagonia officials say their next venture into toy sales will be a stuffed sea turtle--with felt eyes.
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FYI
To return a Penguino doll, mail it to Patagonia, 4880 Colt St,, Ventura, CA 93003. Include your name, address, and phone number, and Patagonia will send you a check for your shipping expenses, plus a $25 gift certificate for your troubles. For more information, call 1-800-338-6464.
