March 2007
Black Dog fined for continued sales of recalled children’s sweatshirts
Hoodie danger Drawstrings pose risk of strangulation.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that Black Dog Tavern Co. agreed to pay a $50,000 civil penalty after the
company continued to sell children’s hooded sweatshirts with drawstrings even though the clothing had been recalled in February
2006. At that time, the recall included the requirement that the firm stop selling the recalled sweatshirts.
Clothing like this poses a strangulation hazard because drawstrings can catch on items such as playground equipment, bus doors, and cribs.
From January 1985 through January 1999, the CPSC received reports of 22 deaths and 48 nonfatal entanglement incidents involving drawstrings on children’s clothing. (No incidents or injuries have been reported relating to Black Dog’s sweatshirts.)
While on vacation, a Consumers Union senior staff attorney for product safety reported the Black Dog drawstring hazard that led to the February 2006 recall. In August 2006 she reported the continued sales of this recalled product. We asked CPSC spokeswoman Julie Vallese why it took so long for the CPSC to act on the August report, and she said that it takes time to determine the nature and severity of a problem before issuing a civil penalty. If you see a product that you think is being sold despite having been recalled, tell us and call the CPSC at 800-638-2772.
What to do
Consumers should remove the sweatshirt drawstrings to eliminate the hazard. For details, call Black Dog at 800-626-1991 or go to www.theblackdog.com.
Clothing like this poses a strangulation hazard because drawstrings can catch on items such as playground equipment, bus doors, and cribs.
From January 1985 through January 1999, the CPSC received reports of 22 deaths and 48 nonfatal entanglement incidents involving drawstrings on children’s clothing. (No incidents or injuries have been reported relating to Black Dog’s sweatshirts.)
While on vacation, a Consumers Union senior staff attorney for product safety reported the Black Dog drawstring hazard that led to the February 2006 recall. In August 2006 she reported the continued sales of this recalled product. We asked CPSC spokeswoman Julie Vallese why it took so long for the CPSC to act on the August report, and she said that it takes time to determine the nature and severity of a problem before issuing a civil penalty. If you see a product that you think is being sold despite having been recalled, tell us and call the CPSC at 800-638-2772.
What to do
Consumers should remove the sweatshirt drawstrings to eliminate the hazard. For details, call Black Dog at 800-626-1991 or go to www.theblackdog.com.
