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US, Canada reject Kenyan jeans over choking risk

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Kenyan jeans rejected by US and Canada over choking risk
The Children’s Place recalled the jeans for potential choking risks./Photo Courtesy

Due to potential choking hazards, the US has recalled almost 100,000 pairs of kids’ trousers made in Kenya.

On 10 August, 2023, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the order, and The Children’s Place, the biggest retailer of children’s specialty clothing in North America, was required to comply by giving customers refunds.

The metal snaps of the jeans may come apart, creating a choking risk to youngsters, according to the recall information posted on the commission’s website.

“Consumers should immediately take the recalled jeans away from children and return the jeans to any The Children’s Place store for a full refund. The Children’s Place is notifying all known purchasers,” the commission says.

Since September of last year, the jeans have been on sale for $25 (KSh3,750).

For clothing produced in garment factories operating in the Export Processing Zones (EPZ) in the counties of Nairobi and Machakos, Kenya is America’s top export market.

Kenya exported commodities to the US worth $890 million (KSh133.5 billion) in 2022.

Approximately 97,400 pairs of jeans sold in the US are thought to contain the same manufacturing defect.

The Canadian government is requesting that everyone who purchased the 1,800 pairs of the identical style of jeans immediately cease wearing them and return them to the merchants.

According to the alert from Health Canada, the Canadian government agency in charge of national health policy, the impacted products can only be found by looking for the style number 3022341 and vendor number 7000541.

“Products with a different vendor number are not covered by this recall,” says the agency.

Snaps can come off of clothing and present a choking threat to youngsters, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is why they are being recalled in Canada.

“As of 9 August, 2023, the company has received no reports of incidents or injury in Canada. In the United States, the company has received one report of a detaching snap and no report of injury,” the Canadian government says in the recall notice.

The jeans are branded Baby and Toddler Boy Basic Stretch Straight Leg Jeans.

Author

Milton Nyakundi

Milton Nyakundi is a veteran multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience across broadcast, digital, and print media, who relocated to the United States in 2022 and is now the Senior International Correspondent for Kurunzi News based in Washington, DC, USA. He has previously worked with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), among other high-profile roles with Kenya's first privately-owned media outlet - Kenya Television Network. His experience also include prominent roles as Media Consultant for Football Kenya Federation (FKF), and StarTimes Kenya. His career spans high‑stakes political reporting covering legislative and constitutional issues, elections, governance, and accountability across Kenya, Africa, and global arenas. He also boasts extensive sports journalism experience, covering local and international sports events, including leagues, tournaments and sports governance. He is well-known for his investigative depth, editorial leadership, and evidence-driven journalism that guides his consistent delivery of public‑interest storytelling across platforms.

View all posts by Milton Nyakundi

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