CPSC and Target Announce Recall of Flammable Sweat Shirts

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Target Stores of Minneapolis, Minn., is recalling about 106,000 fleece sweat shirts for men and boys sold under the brand name "UTILITY." The fabric, which fails to meet federal mandatory standards of fabric flammability, may ignite readily and presents a serious risk of burn injuries in violation of the federal Flammable Fabrics Act. Fabrics that do not comply with the standard typically burn faster than newspaper.

The fabric is a cotton-polyester blend material with a raised fiber surface. Its fleecy texture closely mimics that of an inside-out sweat shirt. This fabric is often called sherpa.

The sweat shirts come in two styles: crew neck (with the word "UTILITY" embroidered at the left chest area) and zippered polo (with collar and 5-inch zipper closure at the neck). The sweat shirts come in a variety of sizes and colors, including gray, blue, green, and taupe. The sweat shirts have two sewn-in labels, one that reads "Wear anywhere UTILITY Quality Clothing" and the other that reads "Made in China...RN 17730."

Target Stores nationwide sold the sweat shirts from June 1996 through February 1997 for about $18 to $22. Consumers should immediately stop wearing these sweat shirts and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund. For additional information about this recall, consumers should call Target Stores collect at (612) 304-6000. Consumers can also call CPSC's toll-free hotline at (800) 638-2772.

This recall does not extend to other "UTILITY" brand garments.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from the unreasonable risk of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury and for information on CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To order a press release through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051 from the handset of your fax machine and enter the release number. Consumers can report product hazards to info@cpsc.gov.

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