Recall Details and Affected Products
Hobby Lobby Stores announced a recall on January 29, 2026, affecting approximately 21,230 plush toys with clips. The recalled products include both giraffe and llama designs sold at Hobby Lobby stores nationwide and online at hobbylobby.com from May 2025 through December 2025.
The toys were sold for between $6 for the giraffe and $8 for the llama. The products were manufactured in China and imported by Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma [1].
Recalled Product Descriptions
The recall affects two distinct plush toy designs. Each product can be identified by specific item numbers and hang tag codes printed on labels and tags.
- Giraffe Plush Toy with Clip – Features a yellow body with a yellow claw clip, orange and blue legs with various colored paws, and black and white animal print ears. Measures approximately nine inches long. Item numbers HL699436 or HL731481 are printed on the white sewn-in label. Hang tag displays “2553675” printed on the front left corner.
- Llama Plush Toy with Clip – Features a white body with a green claw clip, mirror and orange triangle teether attached to the body, and orange and yellow legs with various colored paws. Measures approximately 12 inches long. Item number HL699436 is printed on the white sewn-in label. Hang tag displays “2553634” printed on the front left corner.
Choking Hazard Description
The legs of the plush toys can detach from the body during use. When the legs separate, small beads inside the legs are released, creating a serious choking hazard for young children.
The firm has received one report of a leg detaching from the body of a plush toy, allowing the small beads to separate from the leg. No injuries have been reported to date.
Understanding Choking Hazards in Toys
Small parts that can detach from toys pose one of the most serious hazards to young children. Beads, buttons, and similar small components can easily become lodged in a child’s throat, blocking airways and causing choking.
Children under three years old are at highest risk for choking incidents because they frequently put objects in their mouths as part of normal exploratory behavior. Even older children may be at risk if they have younger siblings who could access the toys.
Federal toy safety standards exist specifically to prevent the sale of toys with detachable small parts that pose choking risks. When manufacturers and retailers sell products that violate these safety standards, they may be held liable for resulting injuries.
Consumer Refund Instructions
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled giraffe and llama plush toys with clips. Parents should remove these toys from children’s reach and return them to the nearest Hobby Lobby store for a full refund.
For additional information, consumers can contact Hobby Lobby Stores toll-free at 800-326-7931 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday. Consumers can also email customer.service@hobbylobby.com or visit www.hobbylobby.com/customer-service/recalls for more information.
Federal Recall Laws
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Consumer Product Safety Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC. Retailers who continue to sell recalled products may face legal penalties.
The CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of consumer products. When defective products cause injuries, victims have legal rights to seek compensation from responsible parties.
Legal Options for Injured Children
Parents whose children suffered choking injuries or other harm from these recalled plush toys may have grounds for legal action. Product liability claims can help families recover compensation for medical expenses, emergency room visits, hospitalization costs, ongoing treatment, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
Class action lawsuits may be filed when multiple consumers suffer harm from the same defective product. Given that over 21,000 units were sold nationwide, collective legal action may be pursued on behalf of affected families.
Potential Liability in Toy Injury Cases
Multiple parties may bear responsibility when defective toys injure children. Hobby Lobby, as both the importer and retailer, has a duty to ensure products sold in its stores meet federal safety standards and do not pose unreasonable risks to consumers.
The Chinese manufacturer of the plush toys may also face liability for design defects, manufacturing defects, or failure to adequately test products before distribution. Companies have obligations to ensure component parts like legs are securely attached and cannot detach during normal use.
The fact that at least one incident of leg detachment has been reported demonstrates the defect is not merely theoretical but has occurred in actual use. This supports product liability claims even in cases where no injuries have yet been reported.
Potential Damages in Toy Injury Cases
Families of children injured by defective toys may be entitled to various forms of compensation. Economic damages can include emergency room visits, hospitalization costs, diagnostic imaging, specialist consultations, surgical interventions if needed, prescription medications, follow-up medical care, and travel expenses for medical treatment.
Non-economic damages may cover the child’s physical pain and suffering, emotional trauma from choking incidents, parental emotional distress, loss of quality of life, anxiety about potential long-term effects, and psychological counseling costs. Severe choking incidents requiring medical intervention typically warrant substantial compensation amounts.
Importance of Reporting Injuries
Parents whose children were injured by these plush toys should report the incident to the CPSC through www.SaferProducts.gov or by calling the CPSC Hotline at 800-638-2772. These reports help regulators track product safety issues and may support legal claims.
Medical documentation is crucial for any potential legal action. Parents should ensure all emergency room visits, doctor consultations, and treatments related to toy injuries are properly documented and retained for future reference.
Do I Have a Giraffe Plush Toy Recall Class Action Lawsuit?
If your child suffered a choking injury, required medical treatment, or experienced other harm from a Hobby Lobby giraffe or llama plush toy with clip, consider consulting with an attorney experienced in product liability and toy injury cases. Legal professionals can evaluate your case, review medical records, gather necessary documentation, and advise on the best course of action for your family.
References
- https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/Hobby-Lobby-Recalls-Giraffe-and-Llama-Plush-Toys-with-Clips-Due-to-Choking-Hazard