Holiday Rattle Baby Slippers Sold at Walgreens Recalled for Choking Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced a product recall of about 57,000 Holiday Rattle Baby Slippers due to choking hazard.

The defective slippers were manufactured in China; imported by Atico International USA Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and distributed and sold by Walgreen Co., of Deerfield, Illinois.

The internal stuffing and rattle inside the slippers’ decorative figures can be pulled out, posing a choking hazard to young children. To date, Atico received one report of a seven-month-old baby who was found turning blue and with the slippers’ stuffing in his/her mouth. The baby’s father removed the stuffing. Two additional reports of babies wearing the slippers who pulled on the rattle/stuffing and the stuffing came out were also reported. No injuries have been reported in connection with this defective product.

The recalled slippers are decorated with stuffed fabric figures including snowmen, Santa Claus, reindeer, and penguins, and have decorative rattles inside the slippers that sound like bells when shaken. Item number 999526 is printed on the back of the cardboard header card packaging. “Find Your Joy” is printed on the front of the slippers’ packaging.

The recalled slippers were sold at Walgreen stores nationwide from October 2010 through January 2011 for about $5.

The CPSC is advising consumers to immediately stop using the slippers and return them to any Walgreen location for a full refund. Atico International USA can be reached, toll-free, at 1.877.546.4835 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, or at the firm’s website.