Urgent warning for Irish parents as children’s item in six colours recalled

AN urgent warning has been issued for Irish parents as a children’s item is being recalled over choking fears.

The EDCO Eindhoven B.V. Recalls Fidget Caterpillar comes in six colours.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has issued an alert due to safety concerns.

The affected product has small parts that could become a choking risk.

They wrote: “EDCO Eindhoven B.V. is carrying out a recall of Fidget Caterpillar 6 Colours.

“The affected product has been sold since February 2024.

“The risk presented by this product is choking due to the presence of small parts.

“If a child puts the small part in their mouth, it can block airways and cause choking.

“The barcode is 8711252 50324 0. The batch number is 2100428. The brand and model number are unknown.

“There are approximately 48 affected products in the Republic of Ireland.

“The product was sold by retailer Value Town.”

Customers are being urged to keep the affected product out of reach of children.

They added: “Customers should stop using the product immediately, keep it out of the reach of children and return the item to the point of purchase for a refund.

“If you have any further concerns or questions about this product, please contact EDCO Eindhoven B.V. directly by telephone at 0031- 40 250 11 11.”

Meanwhile, “dangerous” amber teething beads for babies have been banned from ALL Irish stores due to health fears.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission said the beads in the form of necklaces, bracelets and anklets are a serious choking and strangulation risk to young children.

Product safety experts have approached multiple distributors across Ireland, requiring them to remove all amber teething jewellery from sale, both instore and online.

The CCPC is also working with other European product safety authorities to track down companies supplying these products to Ireland.

CCPC Director of Communications Grainne Griffin told RTE‘s Morning Ireland: “Anything for babies or for children under the age of three, there just can’t be any kind of strings or chords or anything like that.

“Because there’s always going to be that risk of strangulation that it will tighten around the baby’s neck.

“And similarly, there can’t ever be any small pieces, because a baby could inhale them or swallow them or choke.”

HSE National Clinical Lead Child Health Public Health Dr Abigail Collins said there is “no convincing evidence” that the beads help with teething pain.

She added: “Not only is there a strangulation and choking risk, there is no convincing evidence to support claims that amber teething jewellery provides pain relief.

“It can be upsetting for parents to see babies and young children in discomfort from teething.

“Depending on their age and stage, you can use teething rings, sugar-free teething gel or cold water and healthy foods to chew on.

“It’s vital to never put any kind of cord, string or chain around a baby’s neck, and to keep small objects like beads away from babies and small children.”