Pacifiers known as Chupetes
CPSC Recall #76-041 - May 31, 1976
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 76-041 |
| Recall Date | May 31, 1976 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | Approximately 38,000 |
Product
Pacifiers known as Chupetes
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in cooperation with La Cibeles, Inc., of Union City, New Jersey, has again announced that approximately 38,000 baby pacifiers which may pose a substantial product hazard may still be in the hands of consumers. This is the second public notification to be made in cooperation with La Cibeles, Inc., in an attempt to remove this potential hazard from the marketplace. The pacifiers known as Chupetes are marketed in four series marked "Fauna," "Flower," "Texas," and "Navy." They are imported from Spain and are usually sold in plastic and cardboard casings with pictures on the backing and the name of the series in large letters on the top. The pacifier sells for about 45 cents ($.45). Approximately 130,000 of the original 168,000 have been returned to La Cibeles since February 1976. The Commission learned of the hazard through the death of a five-month-old boy in New York in mid-February. The plastic shield caught in the child's throat and death was caused by complications ensuing from asphyxia. The pacifiers are approximately two inches long with a one-inch soft rubber nipple and a flexible plastic saucer-shaped shield at the base of the nipple approximately one-and-one-half inches in diameter. The handle of the pacifier is in the shape of either an animal head, a flower, a baby with a cowboy hat or a baby with a sailor cap. The shield is marked Wade in Spain" in small molded letters. They are usually displayed for sale on a large cardboard sign with markings similar to those on the package. The word "Chupete" appears on the display. The pacifiers have been distributed in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Florida and Puerto Rico. Consumers who suspect they may have purchased one of these pacifiers should immediately remove it from the child's possession and return it to the place of purchase for a refund. For further information, consumers should call the Consumer Product Safety Commission's toll-free hotline at 800/638-2772. This press release is available in Spanish through the Office of Public Affairs.
Hazard
The pacifiers pose a substantial product hazard may still be in the hands of consumers.
Incidents & Injuries
The Commission learned of the hazard through the death of a five-month-old boy in New York in mid-February. The plastic shield caught in the child's throat and death was caused by complications ensuing from asphyxia.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers who suspect they may have purchased one of these pacifiers should immediately remove it from the child's possession and return it to the place of purchase for a 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.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product, whether recalled or not, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
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.