Nationwide Recall of Toys and Christmas Tree Light Controllers Due to Fire Hazard

December 14, 2024 TruthUSA

Throughout the holiday period, an estimated 160 injuries related to Christmas decorating may occur each day.

Two companies are recalling children’s speakers and decorative lighting controllers from the marketplace due to safety concerns.

In April, Yoto Inc., based in New York, issued a recall for its “Yoto Mini” speakers designed for children aged 3 to 12. On Thursday, the company reannounced the recall, indicating that “the speaker’s lithium-ion battery may overheat and ignite, leading to burn and fire hazards for consumers,” according to a notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published on Dec. 12.

Initially during the recall, the company provided impacted customers with a complimentary replacement smart charging cable. Now, Yoto is offering a free battery replacement kit for affected customers. “Consumers should request the battery replacement kit even if they already received the smart cable during the April 2024 recall,” the notice stated.

A total of approximately 251,165 speakers sold in the U.S. are included in the recall, along with nearly 19,000 units sold in Canada. The Yoto Mini was produced in China.

The product was available on us.yotoplay.com, Target.com, Amazon.com, maisonette.com, and through numerous gift and toy stores nationwide. It retailed for around $70 and was distributed from November 2021 to April 2024. The speaker model has the SKU number PRPLXX00860.

The company has received 12 complaints regarding overheating or melting speakers—nine from the U.S. and three from the UK. No injuries associated with the product have been reported to date.

The notice urged parents to remove the speakers from their children’s reach and advised consumers to “immediately discontinue” use of the product.

“Recalled lithium-ion batteries should be disposed of in accordance with any local and state regulations and the procedures established by your municipal recycling center for damaged/defective/recalled lithium batteries, as these potentially hazardous batteries require special handling,” the notice added.

“Do not place this recalled battery in the trash. Do not deposit this recalled battery in used battery recycling boxes found at various retail and home improvement stores.”

Simultaneously, Mr. Christmas LLC, based in Tennessee, withdrawn wireless decorative tree light controllers on Dec. 12 due to concerns about overheating and fire hazards. The controller, produced in China, is utilized to “activate holiday lights on a tree,” according to a notice.

The product was sold through Cracker Barrel, Walmart, and Target stores nationwide, along with their online platforms from July to November 2024. The price ranged from $25 to $40, and the items carry one of the following model numbers: 39611, 39612, or 39630.

In total, approximately 44,600 units are being recalled. The company has requested that purchasers cease usage of the item and return it for a full refund. Mr. Christmas has received ten reports of overheating, including one incident involving a fire. No injuries have been reported.

Gift Risks, Safety of Children’s Toys

According to the CPSC, around 160 Christmas decorating-related injuries are documented on average each day during the holiday season. Approximately 14,900 individuals suffered such injuries and were treated at hospital emergency rooms during the holiday season spanning from Nov. 1, 2022, to Jan. 31, 2023, as noted by the agency.

A CPSC report highlights that there were about 154,700 emergency department-treated injuries linked to toys used by children aged 12 and below last year. Furthermore, ten fatalities were also noted.

“Most of the 10 deaths reported were due to choking on small balls or crayons, drownings tied to flotation toys, entrapment inside toy chests, and ingestion of water beads,” the agency reported.

“Among the emergency department-treated injuries, non-motorized scooters were responsible for the highest proportion of injuries across all age groups—53,000. Non-motorized scooters accounted for one in every five toy-related injuries among children under 15 years of age.”

Ensuring the safety of toys is essential, especially as toys rank as the second most popular gift choice for Americans this Christmas season, following clothing and accessories, according to a November survey conducted by market research firm Resnio.

The CPSC’s recall of children’s speakers and decorative tree light controllers coincides with an advisory issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, alerting consumers to be cautious of purchasing counterfeit products this holiday season.

AnnMarie R. Highsmith, executive assistant commissioner for CBP’s Office of Trade, emphasized that there are “significant health and safety risks” associated with these counterfeit products.

“We’ve encountered various issues—from toys with high lead content to cosmetics containing harmful ingredients you wouldn’t want on your skin. These are not the gifts you want to present to your loved ones.”

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