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CPSC, Starbucks Coffee Co. Announce Recall of Children's Tumbler Cups

  • Recalled Starbucks Bearista™ Bear tumbler cups
Name of Product:
Starbucks Bearista™ Bear tumbler cups
Hazard:

When the flexible straw on the cups is chewed, small pieces of plastic can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Remedy:
Refund
Recall Date:
May 28, 2003
Units:

38,000

Consumer Contact

For more information, consumers should contact Starbucks Customer Relations at (800) 235-2883 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET any day, or visit the company's website at Starbucks.com.

Recall Details

Description:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Starbucks Coffee Co., of Seattle, Wash., is voluntarily recalling approximately 38,000 plastic Bearista™ Bear tumbler cups. When the flexible straw on the cups is chewed, small pieces of plastic can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Starbucks has received two reports of pieces of the straws becoming detached in the children's mouths. No injuries have been reported; however, in one instance, a child reportedly began to choke on a detached piece of the straw and the Heimlich Maneuver was administered by the parent to remove the small piece.

The tumbler cup is constructed of translucent plastic in the shape of a bear with the words "Bearista™ Bear" printed on the front. The cup was sold in both blue and green. The cup has a screw-on lid in the shape of a bear's head, from which a soft, flexible straw protrudes. The product's lid can rotate such that the straw attachment can be bent (closed) to prevent liquid from leaking out.

Starbucks stores in the United States, Canada and Taiwan sold the recalled cups from April 2003 through May 2003 for approximately $7 (U.S.).

Parents and caregivers should stop young children from using these cups immediately, and return the cups to any Starbucks location for a refund and a free beverage of any size. For more information, consumers should contact Starbucks Customer Relations at (800) 235-2883 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET any day, or visit the company's website at Starbucks.com or Starbuckscollectibles.com for more information. Consumers may also write to Starbucks Coffee Company at Customer Relations, Starbucks Coffee Company, mailstop S-RC1, P.O. Box 3717, Seattle, WA 98124-3717.

Remedy:

Parents and caregivers should stop young children from using these cups immediately, and return the cups to any Starbucks location for a refund and a free beverage of any size.

Incidents/Injuries:

Starbucks has received two reports of pieces of the straws becoming detached in the children's mouths. No injuries have been reported; however, in one instance, a child reportedly began to choke on a detached piece of the straw and the Heimlich Maneuver was administered by the parent to remove the small piece.

Sold At:
Starbucks stores in the United States, Canada and Taiwan sold the recalled cups from April 2003 through May 2003 for approximately $7 (U.S.).
Recall number:
03-134

Note: Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this topic. Please visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for statements related to this or other topics.

If you are experiencing issues with a recall remedy or believe a company is being non-responsive to your remedy request, please use this form and explain the situation to CPSC.

About the U.S. CPSC

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.

Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC. 

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