Thousands of Peg Perego strollers recalled in U.S.

Peg Perego USA Inc. recalled thousands of strollers Tuesday, over concerns that babies can became trapped and strangled under the front tray.

But Peg Perego in Canada said for now, the recall does not affect strollers sold in Canada.

The recall involves 223,000 Venezia and Pliko-P3 strollers in various colours that were made between January 2004 and September 2007.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said babies can become trapped in the stroller it they are not fully strapped in. If unbuckled, children can pass through the opening between the tray and the seat bottom and the child's neck and head can become trapped by the tray.

It says a boy from California strangled to death in one of the strollers in 2004 after becoming caught under the tray. As well, a seven-month-old girl from New York was nearly strangled in 2006.

Peg Perego USA says the strollers affected in this recall were made before a voluntary industry standard was implemented in January 2008 that requires larger openings between the stroller's tray and the seat bottom.

Only strollers with a child tray and one cup holder are part of this recall. Strollers with a bumper bar in front of the child or a tray with two cup holders are not included in this recall.

Peg Perego USA is advising customers to immediately stop using the strollers and order a free repair kit from its website, PegPeregoUSA.com.

Peg Perego Canada Tony Castellano says the strollers sold in Canada and the U.S. are “very similar.” He says the trays are “exactly the same” though the strollers’ model numbers are different.

But Castellano says there have been no reports of incidents here in Canada and that the strollers are safe when children are buckled in properly.

“Customers can continue to use the strollers. The strollers met the required standards when they were made and they meet the standards now,” he said in a phone interview.

Peg Perego Canada will be meeting with representatives from Health Canada to decide how to proceed. Castellano says in many cases, companies that have arms in both Canada and the U.S. will issue a recall in one country while issuing only a public advisory in another, reminding customers to use the products as directed.

He says a notice will be posted on the Peg Perego website shortly after the meeting with Health Canada.