Mattel Inc. is withdrawing a popular doll from store shelves and offering consumers $40 refunds in response to about 100 reports of children getting hair and fingers caught in the doll's battery-powered mouth.
Mattel said problems have occurred with only a fraction of the 500,000 Cabbage Patch Kids Snacktime Kids dolls sold, and testing has failed to find any safety hazard associated with the dolls."Nonetheless, we remain deeply concerned with the satisfaction of all our consumers and in maintaining their longstanding confidence in the safety and value of our toys," Jill Barad, Mattel's chief operating officer, said Monday.
The doll has mechanical jaws that move when it is fed the plastic carrots and french fries that come with it. But in some cases the doll clamped onto the fingers and hair of children and wouldn't let go.
The doll was introduced to the market in the fall, and sales have been above average, Mattel spokes-man Sean Fitzgerald said.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission said it was pleased with Mattel's voluntary with-draw-al.
"We recognize that these incidents can be upsetting to children and adults, and we are pleased with the actions being taken by Mattel," commission Chairwoman Ann Brown said.
Mattel already has given out "a minimal" number of refunds, he said. "We have been honoring requests. At this point we are just making it official," Fitzgerald said.
The $40 refund includes estimated shipping and handling costs, the company said. In order to get the refund, owners should send the dolls to Mattel's Chino, Calif., distribution center along with their names and addresses.
The refund program is only for Cabbage Patch Kids Snacktime Kids dolls, and not for any other type of Cabbage Patch doll, Mattel said.
To receive refunds, dolls should be sent to Mattel Distribution Center, 14310 Ramona Ave., Chino, CA 91710. Returns should include a note clearly indicating the consumer's name and address. For more information, consumers can call Mattel at 1-800-335-1700 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.