Severity
Moderate
CPSC, Schylling Associates Inc. Announce Recall of More "Jack-In-the-Box" Type Toys
Reported: December 12, 2003 Initiated: December 12, 2003 #04050 14,000 units
Schylling Associates Inc., of Rowley, Mass. issued this CPSC recall on December 12, 2003. Classified as Moderate severity. Approximately 14,000 units are affected. The recall was issued because: The bead on the crank of the toy can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.. 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 #04050) was formally reported on December 12, 2003. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Schylling Associates Inc., of Rowley, Mass. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate 14,000 units are affected.
The documented reason for this recall is: The bead on the crank of the toy can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. 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: Take these toys away from children immediately and contact the firm for information on receiving a refund or replacement toy. — consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.
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 6 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 23 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
Units Affected
14,000
Related Recalls
6
6 from same agency
Product Description
Two designs of the "Jack-In-the-Box" type toys are included in this recall, both of which play "Pop Goes the Weasel" when the crank is turned. One is based on Dr. Seuss' "Cat in the Hat", and the other is based on Ian Falconer's "Olivia the Pig" character. The Cat in the Hat box is red, yellow and blue and has a black and white cat dressed in a red and white hat that pops out of the box. "CAT IN THE HAT" is written on the box lid. The Olivia box is black- and salmon-colored with "CIRCUS" written around the top sides. The Olivia character dressed as clown pops out. Schylling Associates Inc. previously recalled a Bear "Jack-In-the-Box" type toy in November with the same hazard.
Reason for Recall
The bead on the crank of the toy can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.
Remedy
Take these toys away from children immediately and contact the firm for information on receiving a refund or replacement toy.
Details
- Recalling Firm
- Schylling Associates Inc., of Rowley, Mass.
- Units Affected
- 14,000
Recall Profile
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission |
| Severity class | Moderate |
| Status | Active |
| Recall number | 04050 |
| Date reported | December 12, 2003 |
| Date initiated | December 12, 2003 |
| Recalling firm | Schylling Associates Inc., of Rowley, Mass. |
| Units affected | 14,000 |
| 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? ▼
Two designs of the "Jack-In-the-Box" type toys are included in this recall, both of which play "Pop Goes the Weasel" when the crank is turned. One is based on Dr. Seuss' "Cat in the Hat", and the other is based on Ian Falconer's "Olivia the Pig" character. The Cat in the Hat box is red, yellow and blue and has a black and white cat dressed in a red and white hat that pops out of the box. "CAT IN THE HAT" is written on the box lid. The Olivia box is black- and salmon-colored with "CIRCUS" written around the top sides. The Olivia character dressed as clown pops out. Schylling Associates Inc. previously recalled a Bear "Jack-In-the-Box" type toy in November with the same hazard.. Recalled by Schylling Associates Inc., of Rowley, Mass.. Units affected: 14,000.
Why was this product recalled? ▼
The bead on the crank of the toy can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.
What should consumers do? ▼
Take these toys away from children immediately and contact the firm for information on receiving a refund or replacement toy.
Which agency issued this recall? ▼
This recall was issued by the CPSC on December 12, 2003. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 04050.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall? ▼
Check the product description and recall number (04050) 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.
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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.
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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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — demographic + housing + income data. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage + employment by occupation. bls.gov/oes
- BEA Regional Economic Accounts — GDP + personal income by state/metro. bea.gov/data/regional
- U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns — establishment + employment by industry. census.gov/cbp
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-return aggregate data. irs.gov/statistics
- data.gov — U.S. federal open-data portal — discovery layer for additional federal sources. data.gov
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).