PlainRecalls

Caterpillar Toys Recalled by Child GuidanceTM

Reported: July 21, 2000 Initiated: July 21, 2000 #00147

Child Guidance issued this CPSC recall on July 21, 2000. Classified as Moderate severity. The recall was issued because: Choking. This recall notice is sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Below you will find the complete product description, hazard information, remedy instructions, and related recalls from the same manufacturer or product category.

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #00147) was formally reported on July 21, 2000. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Child Guidance is listed as the recalling firm. The number of affected units is not disclosed in the agency filing, which is common for drug and food recalls where lot-level tracking supersedes unit counts.

The documented reason for this recall is: Choking Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 1 were also issued by CPSC. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 26 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.

Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity1Class I (Critical)Class II (Moderate)Class III (Low)
Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity

Moderate

Units Affected

Unknown

Related Recalls

6

1 from same agency

Product Description

Caterpillar Toys Recalled by Child Guidance TM NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 21, 2000 Release # 00-147 Caterpillar Toy Recall Hotline: (877) 586-1006 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Kim Dulic, (301) 504-7058 CPSC, Child Guidance TM Announce Recall to Replace Caterpillar Toys WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Child Guidance TM, of New York, N.Y., a division of JAKKS Pacific Inc., is voluntarily recalling almost 1 million Wiggle Waggle Caterpillar TM toys. Young children can choke on the small balls attached to these toys. CPSC has received one report of a 5-month-old girl in El Paso, Texas, choking to death after one of the small balls attached to these toys lodged in her throat. CPSC also received reports of two children starting to choke on a ball from this toy. The Wiggle Waggle Caterpillar TM is a pull toy that plays four songs and various sounds. It has five ball shapes raised from its body on the end of tightly wound coil wire springs. The two smaller ball shapes on the caterpillar's head resemble antennas. The toy is about 10 inches long, and is green with yellow oval wheels that cause it to wobble when it moves. The segments of the caterpillar's body have lights that flash to the music and sounds. "Child Guidance TM" and "MADE IN CHINA" are imprinted on the bottom of the toy. "Ages 12 months & up" is written on the packaging. Toy and discount department stores nationwide sold the caterpillar toys from May 1998 through June 2000 for about $13. Parents and caregivers should take these toys away from young children immediately. Consumers should send the toy back to the firm to receive another toy of similar value. The firm will pay postage costs. For more information, call Child Guidance TM at (877) 586-1006 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit their web site at www.jakkspacific.com/recall.html. Consumers can also view a video clip about this recall (transcript). This is in "streaming video" format.

Reason for Recall

Choking

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the CPSC recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Severity class Moderate
Status Active
Recall number 00147
Date reported July 21, 2000
Date initiated July 21, 2000
Recalling firm Child Guidance
Units affected Not disclosed
Distribution Not disclosed

Profile values are sourced directly from the official CPSC enforcement record. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
Caterpillar Toys Recalled by Child Guidance TM NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 21, 2000 Release # 00-147 Caterpillar Toy Recall Hotline: (877) 586-1006 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Kim Dulic, (301) 504-7058 CPSC, Child Guidance TM Announce Recall to Replace Caterpillar Toys WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Child Guidance TM, of New York, N.Y., a division of JAKKS Pacific Inc., is voluntarily recalling almost 1 million Wiggle Waggle Caterpillar TM toys. Young children can choke on the small balls attached to these toys. CPSC has received one report of a 5-month-old girl in El Paso, Texas, choking to death after one of the small balls attached to these toys lodged in her throat. CPSC also received reports of two children starting to choke on a ball from this toy. The Wiggle Waggle Caterpillar TM is a pull toy that plays four songs and various sounds. It has five ball shapes raised from its body on the end of tightly wound coil wire springs. The two smaller ball shapes on the caterpillar's head resemble antennas. The toy is about 10 inches long, and is green with yellow oval wheels that cause it to wobble when it moves. The segments of the caterpillar's body have lights that flash to the music and sounds. "Child Guidance TM" and "MADE IN CHINA" are imprinted on the bottom of the toy. "Ages 12 months & up" is written on the packaging. Toy and discount department stores nationwide sold the caterpillar toys from May 1998 through June 2000 for about $13. Parents and caregivers should take these toys away from young children immediately. Consumers should send the toy back to the firm to receive another toy of similar value. The firm will pay postage costs. For more information, call Child Guidance TM at (877) 586-1006 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit their web site at www.jakkspacific.com/recall.html. Consumers can also view a video clip about this recall (transcript). This is in "streaming video" format.. Recalled by Child Guidance.
Why was this product recalled?
Choking
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on July 21, 2000. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 00147.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (00147) against your product. Visit the official CPSC website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
How do I report an injury from a recalled product?
Report injuries to the issuing agency: CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem, or FDA via MedWatch. Document the product (photos, model/serial numbers, purchase receipts) and seek medical attention. Injury reports help agencies track hazard patterns and may strengthen enforcement actions.

Recall Context

Product recalls are issued when a manufacturer, distributor, or federal agency determines that a product poses a safety risk to consumers. This recall is classified as moderate severity, indicating the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences. Across PlainRecalls, we track 83,000+ recalls from FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA to help consumers stay informed and act quickly when safety issues arise.

Nearby Recalls in This Category

Other recalls in the same product category — useful for spotting patterns across the same defect class or manufacturer.

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Data Sources

Data as of 2025. Source: FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS federal recall databases.

  • Source: FDA — Food and Drug Administration, openFDA Enforcement API (food, drug, and medical device recalls)
  • Source: CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls API (consumer product recalls and hazards)
  • Source: NHTSA — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls API (vehicle safety recalls)
  • Source: USDA FSIS — Food Safety and Inspection Service (meat, poultry, and egg product recalls)

Recall information is sourced from official federal agency databases. Always verify recall details with the issuing agency for the most current status. This information is for research and awareness purposes only.

All federal data sources used on this page

Source: Federal recall agencies (FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS) Aggregated multi-agency recall feeds · 2024 Recall data normalized across federal agency feeds; severity classifications follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS).