A prominent retailer is taking swift action to remove a children’s toy from its shelves and advising customers to discontinue its use immediately due to potential choking hazards for babies and toddlers.
The Office for Product Safety & Standards has disclosed that the John Lewis playset, known as the Wooden Roast Dinner Toy, fails to meet essential safety standards. Consumers who have bought this product are being urged to keep it away from children and cease its usage promptly.
This toy, produced in China, includes wooden kitchen utensils like a small knife and tray, along with miniature wooden food items representing elements of a traditional roast dinner.
Authorities have highlighted that the toy poses a choking risk, especially for children under three years old. The concern arises from the Velcro attachments on the toy that can detach during vigorous play, creating small parts that young children may potentially put in their mouths.
According to the OPSS, the toy has been recalled due to the risk of choking as the Velcro fastening can separate during normal use, leading to small parts that could pose a choking hazard for young children, particularly those under 36 months who tend to explore objects orally.
A representative from John Lewis stated, “Customer safety is of utmost importance to us, and we initiated the recall of this toy as a precaution in November. Only the specific line mentioned is affected. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and are providing customers with full refunds.”