Gerber Recalls Popular Product Due to Choking Concerns
Here’s an important heads-up for parents who are trying to ease their babies through the teething stage: one of the tools you might be using could be unsafe. The Gerber Products Company has announced a recall of its Gerber Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks, and has discontinued the product as well, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The company states the product could lead to choking for babies and young kids. The product was recalled on January 31, 2025.
What are Gerber Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks?
The sticks are edible roll-ups made of grains, primarily corn flour, wheat flour and rice flour. They’re flavored with a variety of dried fruit, including strawberry, apple and banana, and are intended to be easy to hold as a baby or child chews on them.
What is the exact reason for the recall?
Gerber reports that there were consumer complaints of choking incidents. One emergency room visit has occurred so far. The only affected products are Gerber Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks: Strawberry Apple and Gerber Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks: Banana.
List of products recalled
Gerber says to look on the packaging for the following information:
GERBER® SOOTHE N CHEW® TEETHING STICKS – STRAWBERRY APPLE, Net Wt. 3.2 Oz (90g), with UPC 0 15000 04618 7, all lot codes
GERBER® SOOTHE N CHEW® TEETHING STICKS – BANANA, Net Wt. 3.2 Oz (90g), with UPC 0 15000 04608 8, all lot codes
GERBER® SOOTHE N CHEW® TEETHING STICKS – BANANA, Net Wt. 1.59 Oz (45g), with UPC 0 15000 01015 7, all lot codes
If you do indeed have the affected teething sticks, do not give them to your child. Instead, take them back to the store, where you can get a refund. If you’re worried about any adverse health incidents your child may have experienced due to using the product, contact your pediatrician or HCP. You can also call Gerber for more information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-4-GERBER (1-800-443-7237).
Teething alternatives
If you've been using the sticks for your teething child, there's an even better option you can turn to now. “I think a good substitute is frozen fruit in a mesh feeder,” says Stefani Sassos, MS, RDN, CDN, NASM-CPT, Nutrition & Fitness Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute. “Not only does the cold fruit help with teething pain, but this type of method can reduce the risk of choking.”
It’s vital to have eyes on your baby or young child at all meal and snack times, to prevent any choking risk. “I can’t stress the importance enough of supervising your infant while they eat.,” Sassos continues. “Encourage them to sit down, and try to minimize distractions to ensure that they are focused on eating their food.”
To play it even safer: sign up for a training/certification class to be fully prepped in case your child ever experiences a choking incident. There’s no need to be scared, but you absolutely should be as aware as possible.
You Might Also Like
