Hearth Record

CPSC, Dollar Tree Stores Inc. Announce Recall of Toy Sponges

Kids’ product recall 03-010. Announced by CPSC on Oct 10, 2002.

CPSC’s own notice, on cpsc.gov

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The short answer

Announced by CPSC on Oct 10, 2002. Copied from CPSC on Oct 19, 2026.

Every line below is in CPSC’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

The eyes on the toys can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

What should you do?

Consumers should take these sponge animals away from young children immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: For more information, consumers can call Dollar Tree Stores at (800) 876-8077 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s web site at www.dollartree.com

Which ones are recalled?

There are three types of sponge animals involved in this recall: whales, turtles and fish. The sponge animals are made of soft terry cloth and have suction cups for attaching to tiled or smooth surfaces. The toys have a sewn-in label that reads in part, “DOLLAR TREE DISTRIBUTION, INC.,” “MADE IN CHINA” and “RN# 87254.”

280,000 units, as CPSC gives them.

Toy Sponges.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

Who made and sold it?

  • Distributed by Dollar Tree Stores Inc., Chesapeake, Va.
  • Dollar Tree, Only One Dollar, Only $1, Dollar Express and Dollar Bills sold the stuffed animals nationwide, from May 2001 through September 2002, for $1.
  • Made in China, as the notice gives it.
Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

Was anyone hurt?

CPSC and Dollar Tree Stores have received one report of an eye coming off. No injuries have been reported. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked 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.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

  • U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Recalls API.

    Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.

Source:

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 19, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 8, 2026. Updated monthly.

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