Check your Easter baskets! There might be something you probably — no, definitely want to keep out of your kids' hands (and their stomachs). But why did Target recall its Hatch and Grow Easter eggs, exactly? It turns out that 56,000 of the $1 toys have been recalled due to dangers that can occur if the toys are accidentally swallowed by children.
UPDATE: In an email statement to Romper, a Target spokesperson wrote, "At Target, accountability is the foundation of how we do business, and we are committed to providing high-quality and safe products for our guests. Target announced the Hatch and Grow Egg recall on April 13, in partnership with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Guests may return the item to Target stores for a full refund. No receipt or proof of purchase is necessary. Guests should contact Target at 1-800-440-0680 with any questions related to this recall. For additional information, guests should refer to Target.com and Target’s Facebook product recall app."
EARLIER: If you've already doled out the gifts to your little ones, the recall stresses that toys should be taken away from them ASAP. After reading why, you'll be glad you did.
The official product recall issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) noted that the recall extends not just to the water-expanding, pastel eggs (in shades of teal, pink, and purple), but to other "Easter Grow" toys like a yellow baby chick and a bunny (in white and brown shades). "Hatch Your Own Dino Eggs" are also included in the recall, in the colors purple and yellow-green. The CSPC warns of the following, while noting that no injuries or incidents have been reported thus far:
If the small toy is ingested, it can expand inside a child's body and cause intestinal obstructions, resulting in severe discomfort, vomiting, dehydration and could be life threatening. Surgery is required to remove the toy from the body, if ingested. Medical professionals and parents should be aware that there is a possibility that the toys might not show up on an x-ray.
Romper has reached out to Target for comment on the recall but has not yet heard back.
Rather than risk surgery, returning (or tossing) your toys is the safest option. Want to check if your toy is subject to the recall? First, remember when you bought them, as the toys were sold from February to March of this year. Still not 100 percent secure? Compare your toy (or toys) with the images below:
Want to triple check (because you can't be too careful)? Consult the model number on the back of the packaging. The Easter toys (eggs and animals) have the code 234-25-1200 printed on them. For dinosaur toys, check for 234-09-0016. All of the recalled toys were manufactured in China.
Target is offering refunds for the toys as well; Just bring your bunny, chick, or egg back to a Target store and you'll get your money back. Parents definitely don't want their kids swallowing the small objects, which would presumably expand within the body and cause (as mentioned) some tremendous internal issues. Though the toy eggs are a no-go, rest assured that the chocolate kind are still plenty safe for ingestion. Perhaps you can put your new refund money towards something actually intended to be delicious.
