On December 18, 2014, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Kiddie Korral announced a voluntary recall of Chinese-made girls’ hoodies.
The recalled product is a pink girls’ hoodie with a pony pattern printed on it. The hood is equipped with a drawstring, a zipper and 2 pockets on the front. The product is made of 100% polyester. Available in sizes 2-12, the item has “Kiddie Korral” printed on the neck tag, RN#117026 printed on the side seam, and model number 327.
The reason for the recall is that the drawstring may strangle children or become entangled when tripping on car doors or objects on playground equipment, posing a risk of suffocation and death. In February 1996, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued guidance on drawstrings for children’s tops and outerwear. In 2011, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission established new federal safety regulations for children’s outerwear drawstrings, changing the long-standing voluntary guidance on drawstrings for children’s outerwear to a mandatory standard. The recalled products were sold in the U.S. market from December 2012 to November 2014. The number of recalled products is approximately 2,300 pieces, and the product sells for approximately US$25 per piece.
Up to now, no reports of dangers from product use have been received. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that consumers remove the drawstrings from sweatshirts to eliminate the hazard, or return the hoodies to the merchant for full compensation.
