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CPSC recall · Reported July 2, 2001

CPSC, Chicco USA Inc. Announce Recall of Preschool Toys

Some of the larger-sized ball halves can become stuck on a young child's face, covering the nose and mouth, and causing suffocation.

Recall #
01182
Affected scope
About 6,000
Compiled from official public sources by the editorial team.
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The CPSC recalled The Build-A-Ball toy consists of five multi-colored and various-sized plastic balls that … - a moderate-severity action.

CPSC, Chicco USA Inc. Announce Recall of Preschool Toys was recalled and listed by the CPSC in July 2, 2001. Reason: Some of the larger-sized ball halves can become stuck on a young child's face, covering the nose and mouth, a…. Remedy: Parents and caregivers should take these balls away from young children immediately and r…. Verify recall #01182 with the CPSC before acting.

The recall

issued this moderate-severity CPSC recall-Some of the larger-sized ball halves can become stuck on a young child's face, covering the nose and mouth, a….

Moderate
severity level
July 2, 2001
reported

Sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Verify recall #01182 with the agency before acting. Full product description, hazard, remedy, and related recalls are below.

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #01182) was formally reported on July 2, 2001. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. The recalling firm is not specified in the federal record. Federal records list the affected scope as About 6,000.

The documented reason for this recall is: Some of the larger-sized ball halves can become stuck on a young child's face, covering the nose and mouth, and causing suffocation. Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details. The remedy documented by the agency is: Parents and caregivers should take these balls away from young children immediately and return the toys to the store where purchased for a refund. - consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.

Within the same product category the archive holds 6 closely related recalls, 6 from CPSC - clustering in a narrow category often points to a systemic quality-control or supplier issue rather than a one-off defect. Always verify the recall number against the official agency record before acting.

Children & Baby Products recalls over time

Where this recall sits in its category - 3,731 children & baby products recalls on record

0100200300400500600 20052008201120142017202020232026 146
Severity2487872426High severity (most serious)Moderate severityLow severity
Where this recall sits in the database

Of 101,704 recalls in the database, 24,878 are high severity, 72,426 moderate, and 4,400 low. This recall is classified moderate severity.

Counts reflect market size and reporting activity, not inherent danger, we do not rank products by risk from raw recall volume.

Severity

Moderate

Affected scope

About 6,000

Related Recalls

6

6 from same agency

Product description

The Build-A-Ball toy consists of five multi-colored and various-sized plastic balls that can be taken apart to be stacked on top of each other or placed inside each other. The five balls in the toy set range in size from about 2 inches to 4 inches in diameter. One-half of the balls are white, green, blue, red or yellow, and the other half is clear. "chicco" is written inside the balls. The balls are packaged in a box labeled "chicco," "Build-a-Ball," "Cod. 66167," and "Made in China." The packaging also indicated the toy is for children ages 1-3 years or 1-4 years. The text on the packaging is written in 11 languages.

Reason for recall

Some of the larger-sized ball halves can become stuck on a young child's face, covering the nose and mouth, and causing suffocation.

Remedy, what to do

Parents and caregivers should take these balls away from young children immediately and return the toys to the store where purchased for a refund.

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 01182
Date reported July 2, 2001
Date initiated July 2, 2001
Recalling firm Not disclosed
Affected scope About 6,000
Distribution Not disclosed
Official source CPSC notice →

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

What to do with this recall

Parents and caregivers should take these balls away from young children immediately and return the toys to the store where purcha…

  • Check the recall number (01182) and product description against the item you own. Search the archive
  • Confirm the current status and remedy on the official CPSC notice before acting. CPSC notice
  • Follow the documented remedy (refund, replacement, repair, or disposal) rather than general advice. What to do next

This page summarizes the official CPSC record for research and awareness; it is not legal, medical, or safety advice. Verify with the issuing agency before acting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
The Build-A-Ball toy consists of five multi-colored and various-sized plastic balls that can be taken apart to be stacked on top of each other or placed inside each other. The five balls in the toy set range in size from about 2 inches to 4 inches in diameter. One-half of the balls are white, green, blue, red or yellow, and the other half is clear. "chicco" is written inside the balls. The balls are packaged in a box labeled "chicco," "Build-a-Ball," "Cod. 66167," and "Made in China." The packaging also indicated the toy is for children ages 1-3 years or 1-4 years. The text on the packaging is written in 11 languages.. Units affected: About 6,000.
Why was this product recalled?
Some of the larger-sized ball halves can become stuck on a young child's face, covering the nose and mouth, and causing suffocation.
What should consumers do?
Parents and caregivers should take these balls away from young children immediately and return the toys to the store where purchased for a refund.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on July 2, 2001. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 01182.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (01182) 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.

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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Every figure on PlainRecalls is rendered directly from official FDA, CPSC and NHTSA recall records, no number is typed in by an editor. This recall: CPSC, reported July 2, 2001. Severity classes follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC and NHTSA by hazard type), and related-recall context is computed across the full archive. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.