Payless ShoeSource Recalls Smart Fit and Teeny Toes Children's Athletic Shoes
Payless ShoeSource is recalling about 441,000 children's athletic shoes because a metal eyelet can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).
Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.
Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a choking hazard for young children, which is a high-risk product defect. Although one choking incident was reported, no injuries occurred, fitting the criteria for a high-risk product where injury has not yet been reported.
Plain-English summary
Payless ShoeSource Inc. is recalling approximately 441,000 pairs of Smart Fit and Teeny Toes children's athletic shoes. The recall involves prewalk and toddler sizes 0 to 10, which are white with different color trim. The brand name is written on the sole and insole, and the shoes have specific five-digit numbers on a label on the bottom of the shoe tongue: 31056, 31057, 31219, 32264, 32265, 33060, and 33061.
The recall was initiated because the metal eyelet lace holder at the top of the shoe can detach, creating a choking hazard for young children. Payless ShoeSource has received one report of a child starting to choke on a detached eyelet, though no injuries have been reported.
The shoes were sold at Payless ShoeSource stores and on their website nationwide from December 2003 through April 2004 for about $10. Consumers should take the recalled shoes away from young children immediately and return them to a Payless ShoeSource store for a cash refund or exchange. For more information, consumers can call Payless toll-free at 1-877-452-7500 or visit www.payless.com.
The recalled product
- Product
- Smart Fit™ and Teeny Toes™ Athletic Shoes
- Manufacturer
- Payless ShoeSource Inc., of Topeka, Kan.
- Category
- Consumer Product — Footwear
- Hazard
- Affected units
- 441,000
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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