CPSC, Käthe Kruse Doll Co. Announce Recall of "Selecta" Wooden Toys
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall (1999-12-15). Hazards: choking. About 2,400 units in the US.
| Agency | U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission |
|---|---|
| Recall number | 00033 |
| Published | 1999-12-15 |
| Last updated | 1999-12-15 |
| Product category | Toy Miscellaneous |
| Products | Selecta wooden toys: "Quatrino" wooden shape sorter toys, "Sorting Box" shape sorter toys, "Favola" shape sorter toys, and "Kugelbahn" ball chute toys |
| Firm named in the title | Käthe Kruse Doll Co. |
| Firms | Käthe Kruse Doll Co., of Troy, N.Y. (importer) |
| Manufactured in | Germany |
| Units (US) | 2,400 |
| Hazard classes | choking |
| Remedy classes | refund |
| Sold | Toy stores and websites sold these toys, from January 1997 through November 1999, for $30 to $80. |
Description
The Selecta brand toys being recalled are the "Quatrino" wooden shape sorter toys, "Sorting Box" shape sorter toys, "Favola" shape sorter toys, and "Kugelbahn" ball chute toys. The Selecta Quatrino wooden shape sorter toy has eight sides. There are shapes cut out of the top of the toy for inserting various wooden shaped pieces, including the two small balls. Four brightly colored doors on the side of the toy slide up to open the storage area for the wooden pieces. A sticker on one side of the toy shows a bee, and "with beeswax" is written on the sticker in various languages. The Selecta Sorting Box wooden shape sorter toy has four sides. There are shapes cut out of the top of the toy for inserting various wooden-shaped pieces, including two small balls. A brightly colored door on the top of the toy slides out to open the storage area for the wooden pieces, including the two small balls. A sticker on the toy reads, "Selecta Spieizeug," and "Made in Germany." The Selecta Favola wooden shape sorter toy resembles a medieval castle with four sides and four cylindrical turrets. There is a wooden panel near the top of the toy that opens horizontally, allowing access to shape cut-outs for inserting various wooden pieces, including two small balls. A sticker on the bottom of the toy shows a bee, and "with beeswax" is written in various languages. The Selecta Kugelbahn wooden ball chute is a toy consisting of a series of four chutes attached to each other in an angled position designed to allow the two small balls included with the toy to descend and sound a number of bells that are attached to the chutes along the way. The toy includes a wooden painted clown attached to the center of the top chute. The "Selecta" brand logo appears on the front of the base of the toy.
Hazard
The balls included with these toys are banned because they present a serious risk of choking deaths to young children.
Remedy
Consumers should take these toys away from young children immediately, and return them to the store where purchased for a refund. Consumers who purchased the toys from a website should contact the website to make arrangements for returning the toys for a refund.
Incidents and injuries
The CPSC and Käthe Kruse Doll Co. are not aware of any injuries involving the small balls contained in these toys. This recall is being conducted to prevent possible injuries.
Machine access
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Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall notice (US Government work). Not affiliated with or endorsed by CPSC. Structured by Data Foundry (product-recall-structuring@2); last changed 2026-09-28. Always confirm with the agency notice.