Product Recalls

04.19.2006

A Message to Our Consumers: Progress Report on Product Recall

Dear Reebok Consumer,

On March 23, 2006, Reebok began a voluntary recall of approximately 510,000 heart-shaped charm bracelets that were manufactured in China and distributed worldwide beginning in May 2004. These bracelets were given to consumers as a “Gift with Purchase” with certain styles of Reebok girl’s shoes.

Since the announcement, the recall has been executed in more than 25 countries in North America, South America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere. The vast majority of the shipments – approximately 485,000 – went to retailers in the United States and Europe. We continue to ask consumers who may have these bracelets in their homes to discard them immediately.

As part of this massive recall, Reebok has worked cooperatively with regulators and officials in every global market to reach consumers through a variety of means that differ by region, including news releases, media reports, toll-free telephone lines, web sites, in-store posters, and/or paid advertisements. Reebok has also contacted its retail partners worldwide, as well as most independent sellers, to make sure they are aware of the recall and the appropriate recall procedures.

Efforts have been made to contact consumers who may have obtained these bracelets as part of purchases made on our web site. The company also has deployed staff in key markets to ensure that the bracelets are no longer available at retail stores.

In the coming weeks, Reebok will make additional efforts to reach U.S. consumers by distributing recall posters for placement in emergency rooms and medical clinics, and through an informational mailing to approximately 35,000 pediatricians.

We thank our customers and our consumers for their patience and support during this massive voluntary recall. As a result of this incident, Reebok is conducting a comprehensive review of our quality control programs. The findings of this review will determine what, if any, additional safety measures need to be incorporated into our operations in the future.

You can access information and color photos of the recalled products on the CPSC web site at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml06/06119.html.

03.23.2006

Reebok Recalls Bracelet Linked to Child’s Lead Poisoning Death

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. (To access color photos of the following recalled products, see CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.)

Name of product: Reebok Heart-Shaped Charm Bracelets
Units: About 300,000
Manufacturer/Importer: Reebok International Ltd., of Canton, Mass.
Hazard: The recalled jewelry contains high levels of lead, posing a risk of lead poisoning and adverse health effects to young children.
Incidents/Injuries: Reebok has received a report of a death caused by lead poisoning of a 4-year-old child from Minneapolis, Minn. The child reportedly swallowed a piece from one of these bracelets.
Description: The recall involves an 8-inch long metal bracelet with a heart-shaped charm. The name “Reebok” is engraved on the one side of the charm. The charm bracelet was provided as a free gift with the purchase of various styles of children’s footwear.
Sold at: Major shoe stores nationwide from May 2004 through March 2006. The manufacturer’s retail price of the shoes ranged between $33 and $50.
Manufactured in: China.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the charm bracelets away from children and dispose of the entire bracelet. 
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Reebok at (800) 994-6260 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit Reebok’s Web site at www.reebok.com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270 or visit CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

Statement From President & CEO Paul Harrington Regarding Product Recall

The entire Reebok family is saddened by the tragic death of a four-year-old child from Minnesota, whose reported cause of death was lead poisoning, and who was found to have ingested a trinket with our name on it.

Personally as parents, and professionally as a brand committed to human rights and a healthy, active lifestyle for adults and youth, we extend our deepest sympathies to the child’s family. We recognize that Reebok has an unequivocal responsibility to publicly address this tragedy and to work very hard to ensure that what might have contributed to this death never happens again.
As President and CEO of the Reebok Brand, and the father of three young children, I am deeply saddened and greatly concerned. The day we were notified that there might have been a connection between Reebok and this death we aggressively began our recall process. This process was further escalated when Reebok voluntarily requested that the CPSC put this recall on the “fast track,” so that we could move quickly. Reebok is also conducting a comprehensive review of our quality control programs and the findings of this review will determine what, if any, additional safety measures need to be incorporated into our operations.

Reebok is cooperating fully with appropriate regulators, and working hard to fully understand what happened, how it happened, why it happened and – most importantly – how we can immediately take steps to prevent it from happening again.

We are looking into every aspect of our operation to gather all relevant information so that a comprehensive investigation can be successfully and timely concluded.

I want to assure all of our consumers and our retailers that I will do everything in my power to ensure that no other family, no other child, suffers from a similar tragedy.

Paul Harrington
President and Chief Executive Officer
Reebok International Ltd.

Media Contact:
Denise Kaigler
Head of Global Public Relations & Communications
781-401-7869
denise.kaigler@reebok.com

06.21.2006

Adjmi Apparel Group Recalls Reebok Children’s Windsuits for Choking Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. (To access color photos of the following recalled products, see CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.)

Name of product: Reebok Children’s Windsuit
Units: About 55,000
Manufacturer: Adjmi Apparel Group, of New York, N.Y. (Adjmi is an authorized licensee of children’s apparel products of Reebok International Ltd., of Canton, Mass.)
Hazard: The Reebok logo appliqué on the clear rubber zipper pull on the jacket can detach, posing a choking or aspiration hazard to young children.
Incidents/Injuries: Reebok has received one report of a child that began to choke from a detached Reebok logo appliqué. No injuries have been reported.
Description and Models:The recalled Reebok children’s windsuits are full-zip boys polyester jacket and pants sets with a cotton lining and the name “Reebok” and/or Reebok’s Vector logo embroidered on the chest of the jacket. The suits were sold in eight different color combinations: orange/navy, light blue/royal blue, red/navy, yellow/gunmetal, yellow/navy, blue/navy, green/navy and red/black.
Sold exclusively: Mervyns and Toys “R” Us/Babies “R” Us nationwide from December 2005 through May 2006. The suits were priced by size including: newborn/infant about $18, toddler between $22 and $28 and ages 4 to 7 about $24.
Manufactured in: Bangladesh.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled product away from young children. Consumers have a choice of either (1) returning the recalled suit in exchange for receiving a free replacement suit or (2) cutting off and discarding the clear rubber zipper pull and continuing to use the original suit. 
Consumer Contact: For additional information or to receive instructions on receiving a replacement product, contact Adjmi at (800) 873-5570 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Recall Instructions
Please click here for instructions on how to return your product for a replacement product.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270 or visit CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

10.06.2005

CPSC, Adjmi Apparel Group Announce Recall of Reebok Children's Fleece Pullover/Pant Sets

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. (To access color photos of the following recalled products, see CPSC's Web site at http://www.cpsc.gov/.)

Name of product: Reebok Children's Fleece Quarter-Zip Pullover/Pant Sets
Units: About 61,000
Manufacturer/Importer: Adjmi Apparel Group, of New York, N.Y. (Adjmi is an authorized licensee of children's apparel products of Reebok, of Canton, Mass.)
Hazard: The zipper slider and pull on the fleece pullovers can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.
Incidents/Injuries: Reebok has received two reports from consumers of zipper sliders/pulls that have detached. No injuries have been reported.
Description: Only Rebook fleece pullover/pant sets with navy blue quarter-zip zippers are being recalled. The fleece pullover/pant sets were sold in navy blue/red and navy blue/pink in sizes up to children's size 7. "Reebok" is printed across the front of the pullover. The pullovers have a hood that can be folded under the collar. Some of the recalled pullovers were sold with matching mittens. The style numbers were printed on the store tag only and end in: 1816, 2816, 3816, 1816N, 2816N, 1814, 2814, 4814, and 5814.
Sold at: Sold exclusively at Gordmans, Mervyns, JC Penney, Kohl's, The Bon, Fred Meyer, Ross, DD's, Edisons, Macy's, AJ Wright, and Reebok Corporate Headquarters retail store in Canton, Mass. from September 2004 through February 2005 for between $17 and $36.
Manufactured in: Taiwan and China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled product away from young children and contact Adjmi to receive a replacement product. 

Consumer Contact: For more information or to receive instructions on receiving a replacement product, contact Adjmi at (800) 873-5570 9am to 5pm ET, or visit http://www.reebok.com/.

Recall Instructions
Please click here for instructions on how to return your product for a replacement product.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270 or visit CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at http://www.cpsc.gov/.