Nike has recalled nearly a quarter million football helmet chin straps because they can break as the result of contact, putting users at risk for concussions and other serious injuries. The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers who purchased a recalled Nike football helmet chin strap to stop using them immediately. The Nike football helmet chin strap recall is just the latest to involve a defective product made in China.
The Nike football helmet chin strap recall covers 235,000 football helmet chin straps consisting of a plastic cup with a foam liner, straps and four metal snaps. The Nike football helmet chin straps were sold in both youth and adult sizes and come in black/gray and white/gray color combinations. The Nike Swoosh trademark is printed on the outside of the chin cup and DRI-FIT™ is printed on the foam liner. “Made in China” and one of the following four style numbers is printed on the inside of the strap: FA0016 046, FA0016 130, FA0021 046, or FA0021 130. The recalled Nike football helmet chin straps were sold at sporting good stores nationwide and on the firm’s Web site www.Nike.com from April 2006 through October 2007 for about $20.
According to the CPSC, the plastic cup on the defective Nike football helmet chin straps can break when a player takes a hit. So far, this has occurred at least 18 times, exposing users of the recalled Nike football helmet chin strap to a risk of head and facial injuries. Several users have suffered serious injuries as a result of a broken Nike football helmet chin strap. According to the CPSC, those injuries have included two concussions, two facial lacerations and a broken nose.
The recalled Nike football helmet chin straps were made in China, and are just the latest product from that country to be recalled this year. In the past several months, toys, tires, toothpaste, pet foods and dozens of other Chinese products were recalled by various US government agencies for dangerous defects. Many analysts say the fast-growing and unregulated Chinese economy has created an environment that encourages cheap and shoddy manufacturing. And they say that US companies contribute to the problem, by demanding that Chinese factories produce goods as cheaply as possible. The recall scandals have led to calls on many fronts for more regulation of products coming into the United States.
Consumers who purchased the recalled Nike football helmet chin straps should not use them. The chin straps should be returned to Nike for a voucher redeemable for a product at the company’s website. More information regarding the Nike football helmet chin strap recall can be obtained by calling Nike at (888) 583-6453 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.nikebiz.com
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