CPSC & Mattel Announce Warning for Cabbage Patch Doll
CPSC warning 97-041. Announced by CPSC on Dec 31, 1996.
- CPSC warning, not a recall
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own warning is on cpsc.gov.
The short answer
Announced by CPSC on Dec 31, 1996. Copied from CPSC on Oct 25, 2026.
Every line below is in CPSC’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
CPSC issued this as a product safety warning, not a recall.
CPSC warns people about a product this way when there is no recall of it. What’s wrong and what to do are below, in CPSC’s words.
CPSC, Product safety warnings. Released Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
The hazard involves long hair and fingers becoming entangled in the doll’s mouth due to its chewing action.
CPSC, Product safety warnings. Released Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
What should you do?
CPSC urges consumers to discard the product.
CPSC, Product safety warnings. Released Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
Which ones does it cover?
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Mattel, Inc. today announced that Mattel will attach warning labels to all Cabbage Patch Snacktime Kids dolls following reports of children getting their hair and fingers caught in the doll’s mouth.”Mattel will put labels on all the dolls still on store shelves and on all future production,” according to CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. “The information will warn that long hair and fingers can get caught in the doll’s mouth, and will tell consumers that the doll’s chewing action can be stopped immediately by removing the backpack. The doll will not operate without the backpack in place.”Brown added that the CPSC is continuing to investigate possible safety risks posed by the doll. Mattel is pursuing its own investigation.Glen Bozarth, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications for Mattel said: “This issue is of great concern to us and we are taking actions to address it immediately.”The CPSC and Mattel, Inc. are aware of 35 incidents where a child’s hair or finger was caught in the mouths of these dolls. No serious injuries have been reported.Mattel has distributed 700,000 Snacktime Kids since August 1996. Mattel will also provide the safety information and warnings to consumers who call 1-800-524-TOYS. The media contact for Mattel is Lisa McKendall, 310-252-4592.For safety information about these dolls, or to register a complaint, consumers can call the CPSC Hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
700,000 units, as CPSC gives them.
Cabbage Patch Doll.
CPSC, Product safety warnings. Released Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
Who made and sold it?
- The notice names no firm.
CPSC, Product safety warnings. Released Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
Was anyone hurt?
CPSC and Mattel, Inc. are aware of 35 incidents where a child’s hair or finger was caught in the mouths of these dolls. No serious injuries have been reported.
CPSC, Product safety warnings. Released Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- The notice lists no UPCs, so check the model, the description and the photos.
- The notice lists no model numbers in a field of their own; its description may give them.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Product safety warnings.
Released Oct 19, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.
Recalls of kids’ and home products are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record. Copied on Oct 25, 2026.