Tea and tea accessory retailer Teavana has announced a recall of more than a dozen products following reports that the items have spontaneously broken, shattered or exploded unexpectedly. Working in conjunction with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the company has recalled 11 glass tumblers and two tea sets after repeated complaints from customers.
According to Teavana, the company received more than 300 complaints from consumers about glasses cracking and shattering. At least six of the incidents occurred while the products were in use, resulting in lacerations and burns. Once incident, reported on SaferProducts.gov, claims that a glass tumbler spontaneously exploded while not in use.
The double-wall glass tumblers were manufactured in China and imported directly by Teavana. The various items and sets were available for sale between 2007 and 2013. Most featured removable lids, infuser baskets and etched imprints and decorations. Approximately 445,000 were sold in the U.S. and another 24,850 were sold throughout Canada, via both the company’s retail stores and website.
This is the second high-profile drinkware recall this week. Last Thursday, apparel retailer H&M issued a second recall for two of its sports bottles due to a potential choking hazard. To help avoid potentially dangerous products and associated recalls or lawsuits, retailers and other businesses should avoid importing products directly and instead work with experienced promotional products distributors. To protect themselves and their clients, distributors are encouraged to work with CPSC-compliant companies, and suppliers like those accredited by the Quality Certification Alliance (QCA).
Consumers with any of the impacted products are asked to stop use of the items immediately and return them to a Teavana store. The company is offering customers who have purchased the items metallic tumbler replacements. A list of all the recalled item numbers along with images is available at www.teavana.com/recall-glass-tumblers.
