Football Helmets Recall: Chin Straps Break

Nike Inc. is recalling about 235,000 football helmet chin straps after the company received 18 reports of the chin straps breaking, including some that resulted in concussions and facial lacerations, a government safety group announced Tuesday.

Users are at risk of injury when the chin strap's plastic cup breaks as a result of contact, exposing the player to facial or head injuries, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The Beaverton, Ore., company has received two reports of concussions, two reports of facial lacerations requiring stitches, and a report of a broken nose.

The chin straps, made in China, were sold at sporting good stores nationwide and on Nike's Web site from April 2006 through October 2007. They were sold in both youth and adult sizes in four style numbers: FA0016 046, FA0016 130, FA0021 046 and FA0021 130.

For more information, consumers can call Nike at 888-583-6453 or visit the Nike or CPSC Web sites.

In recent weeks, a variety of products from China has been recalled, including a toy that produced a date rape drug when ingested by a child, dolls and toys with lead paint, and even lunch bags for a child nutrition program that contained lead.