2 More Hello Kitty Sweatshirts Recalled
About 1,200 “Hello Kitty” Zip Up Hoodie Sweatshirts distributed by NTD Apparel, of Los Angeles, California and about 12,000 Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings distributed by Sunsations Inc, of Virginia Beach, Virginia have been recalled according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
In 1997, industry adopted a voluntary standard for drawstrings that incorporated CPSC guidelines. In May 2006, the CPSC’s Office of Compliance issued an announcement that such outerwear with drawstrings at the hood or neck would be regarded as both defective and posing a substantial risk of injury to young children. The standards were imposed to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets or sweatshirts. Unfortunately, the CPSC guidelines are routinely ignored by the clothing industry, and that attitude has had deadly consequences for some children. From January 1985 through January 1999, the CPSC received reports of 22 deaths and 48 non-fatal entanglement incidents involving drawstrings on children’s clothing.