The CPSC announced a recall of a small branded plush duck used by Aflac Insurance, after it was discovered that the buttons on “Doctor Duck’s” lab coat contained levels of lead that exceeded the government’s lead content standards.
#Recall: @ccorp_inc 6" Plush Aflac Doctor Duck. The buttons on the lab coat contain excessive levels of lead, posing a poisoning hazard. Discard. CONTACT: 800-642-3522 or online at https://t.co/xNILBVg0z6. Full recall notice: https://t.co/1mUmUBaTNE pic.twitter.com/CZ6tSKbDDr
— US Consumer Product Safety Commission (@USCPSC) August 31, 2020
More than 630,000 plush ducks were given out directly to Aflac employees and agents between January 2005 and July 2020, and were distributed to Aflac by Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company, Santa Clarita, Calif.
The CPSC recommended that everyone in possession of the plush toy immediately disposes of it, as lead can be toxic if ingested by children.
No word on how the CSPC came to realize that the buttons were too high in lead content after nearly 15 years of steady distribution, but one thing is for sure, as someone pointed out on Twitter: This is all karmic payback for firing Gilbert Gottfried as the voice of the Aflac duck, the role he was born to play.
https://twitter.com/jamescappio/status/1300521204114169859
The branded plush was also distributed to consumers as a promotional item, per the CPSC recall notice. The toys were manufactured in China and imported by Communicorp Inc. No injuries or incidents have been reported.
