In Wake of Second Death, Safety regulator and Burger King Again Urge Consumers to Destroy and Discard Pokemon Balls
Recall 00058 · Jan 27, 2000 · Burger King Corporation
25,000,000
units affected
25,000,000
units affected
Facts
- Recall number
- 00058
- Date
- Jan 27, 2000
- Company
- Burger King Corporation
- Units affected
- 25,000,000
- Product
- Pokémon balls distributed with Burger King kids meals
- Product type
- Toy Balls
- Hazard
- Suffocation
The product
Pokémon balls are plastic, ball-shaped containers between 2.75 and 3 inches in diameter. They pull apart to reveal one of 57 different Pokémon toys inside. The balls were distributed in a variety of colors including red and white, and hot pink. Packaging described them as safety tested and recommended for all ages of children.
What can happen
The balls pose a suffocation hazard to children under three years of age.
The fix
Consumers should immediately take the balls away from children under the age of three. They should discard the ball or return both halves of the ball and the clip to a Burger King restaurant for a free order of small fries. Children can continue to use the Pokémon toy that came inside the ball.
Incidents and where it was sold
- Incidents
- On January 25, 2000, a 4-month-old boy in Indianapolis, Ind., reportedly suffocated when one-half of a Pokémon ball that was in his crib became stuck on his face. In December, a 13-month-old girl reportedly suffocated when one-half of a Pokémon ball covered her nose and mouth. Also in December, an 18-month-old girl nearly suffocated when a ball-half got stuck over her face. On the second attempt, the girl's father was able to pull the ball-half from her face.
- Sold at
- Burger King restaurants nationwide distributed the Pokémon balls inside Burger King big kids meals and regular kids meals from early November through December 1999.
Related pages
Questions and answers
What should I do with the recalled pokémon balls distributed with burger king kids meals?
Consumers should immediately take the balls away from children under the age of three. They should discard the ball or return both halves of the ball and the clip to a Burger King restaurant for a free order of small fries. Children can continue to use the Pokémon toy that came inside the ball.
What is the hazard?
The balls pose a suffocation hazard to children under three years of age.
A recall means the maker found a safety problem and offers a free fix; it does not mean every unit has the problem. Units affected are as reported by the company. Popular models sell more and so have more recalls and complaints. Official public data; texts are shortened. Contact the company named above for the remedy.