MATTEL RECALLS HAIR-EATING CABBAGE PATCH DOLL

Snack time is over.

Local stores that had any Cabbage Patch Snacktime Kids left went to work removing the popular dolls from shelves Tuesday afternoon.

News of the recall was released by Mattel Inc., the toy's manufacturer, to media early Tuesday morning.

Managers from most local department stores carrying the doll said they had not received official notice of the recall by Tuesday afternoon. However, K-Mart, Target, Venture and Wal-Mart managers said it would not affect them because they didn't have any dolls left.

"We don't have any to pull off the shelves," said Target manager Mike McKinney. "We pretty well sold out of them through Christmas and never received anymore."

A number of Cape Girardeau consumers responded by purchasing the doll rather than returning it.

"We've had a lot of phone calls wanting to know if we had any left, and they've come right on in and got them," said Toys-R-Us manager Karen Backfisch. "I was talking to my boss earlier, and I told him I thought we'd sell out of them by noon."

Backfisch said the store sold about 13 dolls Tuesday before receiving the official recall notice from the company. Most of the people came in because they had heard about the recall on the radio or television, she said, and knew the doll would now become a collector's item.

"On things like this, if somebody thinks they'll make a buck, they'll buy it," she said.

Mattel voluntarily recalled the dolls Monday as a result of approximately 100 injury reports of children whose fingers or hair got caught in the doll's mechanical jaws.

The doll, which was created for children ages 3 and up, has battery-powered jaws that move when it is fed plastic food that comes with it. The reported injuries occurred when the doll clamped onto the fingers and hair of children and wouldn't let go.

Only one known injury has been reported in the area. A young Poplar Bluff girl had hair pulled out of her scalp when it got caught in the doll's mouth.

The company has a toll-free information line set up concerning the Snacktime Kid doll's safety, and the procedure for disassembling the doll in case of an emergency. Information is also available regarding returning the doll for a cash refund.

Although the company has recalled the doll, Mattel still insists the product is safe for children above the age of three. "Testing has proven the product is safe when used properly," a customer-service recording states. The recording goes on to say the company is committed to providing complete customer satisfaction.

Consumers wishing to know how to return dolls for cash refunds should call 1-800-335-1700 for more information.