Taco Bell sports water bottles

CPSC Recall #90-109 - June 7, 1990

Recall Summary

Recall Number90-109
Recall DateJune 7, 1990
Remedy TypeRefund
Units Affected300,000

Where It Was Sold

The water bottle promotion at some 2700 Taco Bell stores nationwide began June 4
1990
and was available to Taco Bell customers for $0.99 with a food purchase.

Product

Taco Bell sports water bottles

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Taco Bell Corporation of Irvine, California, today announced a voluntary recall of 300,000 sports water bottles distributed by the firm in a recent promotion. The bottle's mouthpiece can be pulled apart and swallowed by children, presenting a potential choking hazard. The water bottle promotion at some 2700 Taco Bell stores nationwide began June 4, 1990, and was available to Taco Bell customers for $0.99 with a food purchase. Taco Bell stopped the program June 7, 1990 when they received a report from a customer that his 21-month-old child had dismantled the bottle's mouthpiece and attempted to swallow it. The child was not injured. Taco Bell has decided it would be in their customers best interest to discontinue sale of this bottle. The bottle, marketed for more than ten years by Specialized Bicycle Components, has three pieces: the main container, a cap and a small mouthpiece closure top. The top may be pulled apart and poses a potential choking hazard to children. Since many types of water bottles are very popular and also widely available in stores today, care should be taken not to allow young children to have access to the caps. Customers who purchased the bottles at Taco Bell should return them for a full refund. Additional information can be obtained by calling 1-800-334-6399.

Hazard

The bottle's mouthpiece can be pulled apart and swallowed by children, presenting a potential choking hazard.

Incidents & Injuries

Taco Bell stopped the program when they received a report from a customer that his 21-month-old child had dismantled the bottle's mouthpiece and attempted to swallow it. The child was not injured.

Remedy Instructions

Customers who purchased the bottles at Taco Bell should return them for a full refund.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly, either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund) at no cost to you.

Federal law prohibits the sale of toys with small parts for children under age 3. CPSC uses a standardized small parts cylinder to test whether pieces from a toy can fit entirely inside, if they can, they are considered a choking hazard. Products marketed for children under 3 must not contain any small parts. Beyond the legal requirements, the CPSC and pediatricians recommend keeping all small objects away from children under 4, as the risk of choking extends beyond the formal legal age threshold.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney, parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.