Build-A-Bear Workshop is recalling roughly 36,000 Heartwarming Hugs Bears in the United States and Canada after reports that the zipper slider on the bear’s pouch can detach, creating a potential choking hazard for children. The recall, announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on Thursday (May 1), includes about 520 bears sold in Canada and covers products sold between January 2026 and March 2026 for about $48.
The Heartwarming Hugs Bear features a stuffed heart insert filled with 2.5 pounds of ceramic beads, which can be heated or cooled for comfort. The zipper, which closes the side pouch where the heart is kept, can come off, posing a risk of serious injury or death from choking.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) noted that no injuries have been reported so far, although there was one incident in the United Kingdom where a zipper slider detached. The recall affects bears with model number 034464, found on a label sewn into the back of one of the bear’s legs.
Build-A-Bear said in a statement, “The safety and wellbeing of our guests and their families is our highest priority. Out of an abundance of caution, consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Heartwarming Hugs Bear and return it to a local Build-A-Bear Workshop store to receive a refund in the form of the original payment or a gift card for the purchase price.”
The bear is intended for children ages three and up, with a cautionary label advising adult supervision due to the heated or cooled element. Customers are advised to stop using the bear immediately and return it to a Build-A-Bear store or use the company’s website to request a free shipping label for returns. Refunds will be issued to the original form of payment or as a gift card.
For more information, consumers can visit the Build-A-Bear recall page or call 844-541-0144.
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