Recalls

Babies choked on a Gerber product recalled in 45 states. Publix, Target, Walmart involved

Choking children, at least one of whom wound up in the emergency room, caused Gerber to issue a sweeping recall of Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks.

How sweeping? All batches of Strawberry Apple and Banana flavor are recalled. Geographically, this covers Puerto Rico and 45 states — only Alaska, New Mexico, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming are excluded. The retail outlets include Target, Publix and Walmart, which didn’t bother with its usual posting of a store list, just saying, “All Walmart stores.”

“The recall was initiated after receiving consumer complaints of choking incidents,” the recall notice by Gerber Products parent Nestle said. As of Friday, “one emergency room visit has been reported to the firm.”

Gerber Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks in Strawberry Apple flavor.
Gerber Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks in Strawberry Apple flavor. FDA

The Strawberry Apple flavor came in 3.2-ounce boxes. The Banana flavor came in 3.2-ounce and 1.59-ounce boxes.

Gerber Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks in Banana flavor
Gerber Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks in Banana flavor FDA

If you have these teething sticks, don’t give them to your babies. Take them back to the place of purchase for a refund. Take children with medical problems to a medical professional.

For questions about the recall, call Gerber at 800-443-7237 (800-4-GERBER).

This story was originally published February 2, 2025 at 10:35 AM with the headline "Babies choked on a Gerber product recalled in 45 states. Publix, Target, Walmart involved."

David J. Neal
Miami Herald
Since 1989, David J. Neal’s domain at the Miami Herald has expanded to include writing about Panthers (NHL and FIU), Dolphins, old school animation, food safety, fraud, naughty lawyers, bad doctors and all manner of breaking news. He drinks coladas whole. He does not work Indianapolis 500 Race Day.
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