Warning

2004-49
September 30, 2004
For immediate release

Health Canada Is Warning Canadians to Discard "Intelligence" Brand Infant Rattles

OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning the Canadian public to immediately discard "Intelligence" brand infant rattles. The "Intelligence" rattles do not meet Canadian safety standards as they release small parts that can present choking and breathing hazards to infants and young children who use them.

Health Canada's Consumer Product Safety offices have received three consumer complaints which described the release of a small plastic rod from the infant rattles. In all cases, parents could remove the small plastic rod before their infants were injured.

There are five infant rattles made of plastic and produced in vibrant colors that are included in this warning. A photo of the products can be found on Health Canada's Web site. A description of each rattle follows:

• The "Intelligence Funny Toys" rattle is multi-coloured and has an oval-shaped outer tube. A spinning and rattling bear-shaped component is located at the centre of the tube. The rattle is approximately 11 cm in height and 10 cm in width.
• The "Intelligence Roller Rattle" is a hollow multi-coloured sphere with twelve teardrop-shaped openings. A small rattling ball is contained inside the sphere. The sphere is approximately 9 cm in diameter.
• The "Intelligence Tumbler Rattle" is multi-coloured and holds the shape of a cylinder with four upright supports. A small rattling ball is contained inside the supports. The cylinder is approximately 8 cm in height and 7.5 cm in diameter.
• The "Intelligence Rock 'N Roll Rattle" is multi-coloured and shaped like a bowl with a pole in the middle. The pole holds two small rattling balls within the bowl. The rattle is approximately 8 cm in height and the bowl's maximum diameter is approximately 10 cm.
• The "Intelligence Funny Toys" rattle is multi-coloured and has an oval-shaped outer tube. A spinning and rattling clown-shaped component is located at the centre of the tube. The rattle is approximately 11 cm in height and 10 cm in width.

The five known "Intelligence" brand rattles are packaged for Dollarama stores and have the product number 1900337 on the front, upper-right corner of each package. However, the rattles may be sold in packaging that differs from that depicted in the photo, or they may be sold under a different brand name.

Health Canada recently advised Dollarama stores across the country to stop selling the "Intelligence" rattles. Approximately 19,870 "Intelligence" rattles are known to have been sold in Canada. However, these rattles may also have been imported by other establishments unknown to Health Canada, and they may still be available for sale.

Parents and caregivers are urged to immediately take the rattles away from infants and young children, and to discard the products.

For further information, contact the Health Canada Product Safety Office nearest you:

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Photographs of product

Media Inquiries:
Margot Geduld/Carole Saindon
Health Canada
(613) 957-1588

Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991