Starbucks Recalls Stainless Steel Straws

Stainless Steel Straws recalled by Starbucks on August 2, 2016. Source: US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Stainless Steel Straws recalled by Starbucks on August 2, 2016. Source: US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Laceration Injuries to Children Prompt Starbucks to Recall Stainless Steel Beverage Straws to Provide New Warnings

On August 2, 2016, Starbucks issued a recall for straws sold alongside stainless steel drink cups, due to the straws’ potential to cause injury.  About 2.5 million stainless steel straws are part of the recall in the US.  (Nn addition, about 301,000 were sold in Canada)

This recall involves reusable stainless steel Cold-to-Go food-grade drinking straws in two sizes. The straws were packaged and sold in sets of three by themselves, and were also sold as a component of two sizes of stainless steel beverage cups:

  • Grande 16-ounce cups
  • Venti 24-ounce cups

The straws feature a ridge at the bottom that keeps the straw attached to the lid. The Grande straws measure approximately 9.5 inches, and the Venti straws measure approximately 10.4 inches. The products were sold at Starbucks stores nationwide and online at Starbucks.com from June 2012 through June 2016 for about $6 (set of three straws). The beverage cups with straws were sold for between $11 and $30.

The Stainless Steel Straws are reportedly a hazard, as they are “rigid and can poke children in the mouth, posing a risk of injury.”  So far, Starbucks has received three reports of mouth lacerations to young children while drinking with the straws.

People are being wanred to not allow children to handle or use the stainless steel straws.

Customers who have purchased or received these products may contact Starbucks at 800.782.7282 from 3am to Midnight (PT) daily, or online at news.starbucks.com and click on “stainless steel straw warnings” for more details.

The stainless steel straws were manufactured in China and imported by Starbucks Corp., of Seattle, Washington.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually.

CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. CPSC’s work to help ensure the safety of consumer products — such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals — contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772, or teletypewriter at 301-595-7054 for the hearing impaired.

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About Kay Whatley 2309 Articles
Kay Whatley serves as Editor and Reporter with The Grey Area News. Kay is a published author with over 20 years of experience in the publishing industry. Kay Whatley is wife to Frank Whatley, founder of The Grey Area™ newspaper and The Grey Area News online news website.