GJC International of Florida Recalls Children's Hooded Sweatshirts Due To Strangulation Hazard

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 15, 2010 Release #10-199

Firm's Recall Hotline: (954) 581-4646 (collect) CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Children's Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Recalled by GJC International of Florida Due to Strangulation Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Children's Hooded Sweatshirts
Units: About 3,200
Importer: GJC International of Florida Inc., of Plantation, Fla.
Distributor: Niko's SPORTSLINE, of Sunrise, Fla. (firm is no longer in business)
Hazard: The children's jackets have drawstrings through the hood which pose a strangulation hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines (pdf) (which were incorporated into an industry voluntary standard in 1997) to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: This recall involves children's Niko brand hooded sweatshirts with drawstrings through the hood. The garment-dyed sweatshirts were sold in mango, kiwi, rust, denim, pink, brown and periwinkle and in sized 2T through 5T. A tag that reads, "Niko's SPORTSLINE" is sewn on the back neck of the garment.
Sold at: Gift shops, children's stores, souvenir and resort stores in Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, Maryland and Michigan from June 2007 through January 2008 for about $8.
Manufactured in: Pakistan
Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the drawstrings from the sweatshirts to eliminate the hazard or return the sweatshirts to GJC International of Florida Inc. for a full refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact GJC International of Florida collect at (954) 581-4646 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.