Chances are, you’re one of millions of people who bought a Contigo Kids Cleanable water bottle over the past ten years. You may have returned it, along with 5.7 million bottles in the U.S. and about 177,000 distributed in Canada and Mexico, last August 2019. That’s when Contigo recalled its water bottles and replacement lids after the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) received 149 reports of the spout detaching— including 18 spouts found in children’s mouths—thereby posing a choking hazard. And the Killino Firm warned parents: If your child goes to daycare or school, be sure to check the water bottle in their backpack or lunchbox.
Now Contigo is pulling millions of bottles from Walmart, Costco and Target shelves again. And with the exact same problem but with many more reports of the same problem! This time the CPSC has received (to date) 427 reports of the spout detaching, including 27 spouts found in children’s mouths.
This second Contigo recall involves Contigo Kids Cleanable Water Bottle with a black spout base, sold from April 2018 through February 7, 2020. If you have this bottle, Contigo will give you a “replacement product” and the company is “Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you.” Nowhere on its website does Contigo offer a refund.
Last August Contigo identified on its Facebook page that the water bottle’s clear silicone spout “in some cases may detach from the lid of the water bottle”. Also on its Facebook page are disgruntled customers:
“You guys have an awful customer service! Contacted you for my sons chocking hazard contigo bottle – you guys replied saying you will send a replacement and didn’t even ask for my address! It’s been 3 months!! Cmon!”
“Very disappointed in the customer service with Contigo. I have been waiting … for the recall replacements parts for my children’s water bottles. I have emailed, called and been given false hope! I would rather get a refund then use your product!”
One recalled product is hard enough financially for a company, but two? Would you buy another Contigo Kids water bottle? There’s no such thing as third time lucky, and this product should be past its shelf life.
How Effective are Recalls?
The CPSC and manufacturer’s recall of a product pretty much ends once that product is removed from store shelves. But that doesn’t mean the product is no longer in circulation. “Even if the product is removed from store shelves very few steps are taken to remove the product from homes, childcare facilities, secondhand stores and garage sales. Millions of recalled products are still in use,” states Kids in Danger on its website. And you can find recalled kids products for sale on EBay, Etsy, etc.
The CPSC states that “Recall Effectiveness is the degree to which a recall is successful in improving consumer safety by producing the desired results, including but not limited to:
- mitigation of the hazard,
- notifying consumers of the problem,
- appropriately encouraging consumers to take action.
Unfortunately, some products cause unforeseen danger and harm the public – mostly children. And product recalls are common. You may be shocked to learn that in 2016 900 million items were recalled. That is correct – in just one year. No wonder it is hard to keep up! Parents have enough to do without having to constantly check the Internet or follow up on every item they have purchased for their kids. As a result, children nationwide face dangers in their home environments without their parents’ knowledge.
Despite this massive number of recalls, they often have shoddy results. According to the Center for Injury Research and Policy, 80 percent of recalled children’s products are still in use, a statistic that likely causes anxiety in even the most relaxed parent.
Sure, product recalls are time-consuming. You have to fill out the form, mail the recalled product back to the manufacturer. Or throw it out, making sure it won’t be retrieved by anyone else.
Far too many defective products can result in serious injury or even death. Attorney Jeffrey Killino is not only an experienced lawyer — he is also a child advocate. When a child injury or death occurs because of a Contigo water bottle he has the know-how and resources to guide you through the legal process to get what you and your family are entitled to. If your child has suffered a traumatic injury because of a company’s negligence, contact Jeffrey Killino today at 877-875-2927.
