Build-A-Bear Recalls 36,000 Plush Toys Over Choking Hazard
Build-A-Bear Workshop has recalled approximately 36,000 Heartwarming Hugs bears in the U.S. and 520 in Canada due to a choking hazard posed by a detachable zipper slider. The side pouch of the bear contains a weighted heart insert intended for comfort, but the zipper component can come loose, risking serious injury or death. No injuries have been reported, but consumers are urged to stop using the product and return it for a refund or gift card.
- ▪The recall affects about 36,000 bears sold in the U.S. and 520 in Canada, with one incident reported in the U.K.
- ▪The Heartwarming Hugs bear has a model number 034464 and was sold from January 2026 to March 2026 for around $48.
- ▪The zipper slider on the bear’s side pouch can detach, posing a choking hazard to children.
- ▪Consumers can return the bear to a store for a full refund or receive a free return label for mail-in reimbursement.
- ▪The CPSC warns that no recalled products should be resold, and such recalls help prevent thousands of toy-related injuries annually.
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By Amanda GreenwoodAssociate News EditorShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Build-A-Bear Workshop has issued a recall for thousands of its popular Heartwarming Hugs bears because a zipper slider on the plush toy’s side pouch can detach and create a choking hazard for children, according to federal safety regulators. The recall affects approximately 36,000 bears sold in the United States, with an additional 520 sold in Canada, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced on April 30.
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