2 Deaths Prompt Toy Recall

When asked why the agency did not investigate the case earlier, Vallese said the investigation took place "in a timely manner from when we learned about it."

Hasbro, of Pawtucket, R.I., learned of the death Sept. 15, after the family filed a lawsuit against the company in Galveston, Tex. Hasbro, in turn, notified the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is still investigating the case, Vallese said.

Deaths caused by toys "are very rare," said Alan Korn, director of public policy for the nonprofit group National Safe Kids.

"For the most part, toys in this country are wildly safe, so when there's been a death with a toy involving choking and then a second death, it should be a concern to parents, the government and the company," he said. "Just because a toy is compliant with federal regulations does not mean it is necessarily safe for the marketplace."

Don Mays, senior director for product safety at Consumer Reports magazine, said federal product safety officials should reconsider how they determine when a small part is a choking hazard.

Parts that are small enough to cause such harm are tested to see if they fit inside a cylinder with a 1.25-inch diameter when tested. If they fit and they are intended for use by children younger than 3, they are banned.

"That is a screening tool but not a panacea for catching choking hazards," Mays said.

Mays believes the cylinder used for testing should be larger. Consumer Reports recommends that parents do their own test, using a tube from a roll of toilet paper.

Mays also questioned the target age group for the Team Talkin' Tool Bench. "Clearly this is a toy that is attractive to a child under three," he said.

As with most recalls, major retailers have begun pulling the toy from store shelves.

Hasbro's recall hotline is 800-509-9554.