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Starbucks Recalls Children's Tumbler Cups

May 28, 2003

Starbucks 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 Web site at Starbucks.com or Starbuckscollectibles.com for more information.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

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