Starbucks recalls stainless steel drinking straws

SEATTLE, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Starbucks Corp. is recalling 2.8 million metal drinking straws after reports of small children injuring their mouths.

The straws were designed to be used with Starbucks' stainless-steel Cold-To-Go cups sold in the United States and Canada, and are considerably more rigid than the complimentary green plastic straws available at the coffee chain. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said Starbucks received three reports of mouth lacerations to young children.

"Consumers should not allow children to handle or use the stainless steel straws," a company statement said.

"We did it [the recall] out of an abundance of caution," said Starbucks spokesman Reggie Borges. "They could be a danger to a kid using them not as intended."

The straws will be replaced with plastic straws, more rigid than the complimentary straws but more flexible than those made of steel.

About 2.5 million straws were sold in the United States, online and at Starbucks locations in the United States, and about 300,000 more in Canadian stores. Customers seeking more information should visit the CPSC website or the Health Canada website, or call Starbucks at 1-800-782-7282.