Glass baby bottles are being recalled in the United States because they violated the federal lead content ban. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the recall involves NUK-branded First Choice glass baby bottles. They have a latex nipple intended for kids 0-6 months old. The brand name, NUK, is in white lettering, a graduated volume scale in white markings, and gray and white stars are on the outside of the bottle.
The recall was initiated because the outside markings of the glass bottle contain lead levels exceeding the United States federal lead content ban. According to the CPSC, lead is toxic if ingested by young kids.
Lead can cause long-term harm to children
It can cause adverse health issues to children, such as damage to their brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems, and hearing and speech problems.
Kids who experience these adverse effects can underperform in school, have decreased ability to pay attention, and have lower IQ. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that there is also evidence that childhood exposure to lead can cause long-term harm.
According to the CPSC, the recalled baby bottles were manufactured for the United Kingdom market and were not intended for sale in the United States. However, they were unintentionally sold to people in Canada and the U.S. through Astir Care, a third-party seller at Amazon.com.
According to NUK, they rigorously and routinely test their products for consumer safety and comply with industry standards set by different regions worldwide. However, the United States and the United Kingdom regulate lead content differently.
In the U.K., where the bottles were intended for sale in the first place, they test and regulate for lead migration. This means British authorities test to ensure the lead stays put on the bottle, that it does not leach and cannot be absorbed during use. In the United States, however, they test and regulate overall lead content levels on the bottle.
American consumers should stop using recalled bottles
NUK encourages American consumers who bought the recalled bottle to stop using it immediately. After verifying that the bottle is part of the recall, they can send it back to NUK for a full refund, according to WTTV.
NUK says the bottle is included in the recall if it meets the following requirements. The bottle should be glass and not plastic, was purchased exclusively through Amazon.com, and its outside markings are white and gray stars.
The NUK name on the bottle should be in white lettering. The bottle's nipple is latex, and its volume size is 240 mL (approximately 8 ounces). People who have verified that the bottle is included in the recall can then complete a form on NUK's website. They will then get a return mailer to return their bottle to NUK. Once NUK gets the bottle and verifies that it is included in the recall, a refund check will be sent out.
