Over half a million pacifier and teether holders have been recalled due to a choking hazard.
“The snap can detach from the pacifier’s ribbon, posing a choking hazard for young children,” said the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The holders were sold in eight styles: Giraffe, Zebra, Turtle, Reindeer (Special Holiday Edition), Frog (Special Holiday Edition), Spring Bunny (Special Holiday Edition), Deer, and Bunny.
Only holders with the following lot codes are included in this recall: RICH0615; RICH0715; RICH0815; RICH1215; RICH0516; RICH0616; RICH0716; RICH1116; RICH1016; RICH0916; RICH1216; RICH0317; RICH0417; RICH0517; RICH0617; RICH0717; RICH0817; RICH0917. The lot codes are printed on the tag attached to the holder.
People should immediately stop using the holders and contact Handi-Craft to receive a replacement product, the commission said.
The recall came after 67 reports were filed involving ribbon fraying and snap detaching.
No injuries have been reported.
The holders are generally popular, getting many five-star reviews across the Dr. Brown website as well as Amazon.
Handi-Craft said that the holders “provide comfort to baby,” as well as including a durable snap that secures to a pacifier or teether.
The company noted that the items are easy to clean as well.
The holders were sold at Bed Bath & Beyond, H-E-B Grocery, K-Mart, Target, Toys ‘R’ Us/Babies ‘R’ Us, and Wal-Mart along with Amazon and the Dr. Brown website, starting in August 2015, and typically retailing for around $10 each.
The manufacturer of the product is listed as Yangzhou Rich Arts & Crafts, based in China.
The commission noted that it is in charge of reviewing products and making sure they’re safe to use.
“The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission [CPSC] is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction,” the commission stated. “Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually.”
“CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC’s work to help ensure the safety of consumer products—such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals—contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.”
