Starbucks recalls kids’ cupsStarbucks recalls kids’ cups

SEATTLE Starbucks Corp. has recalled about 250,000 plastic cups designed for children that were sold in the coffeehouse chain’s stores between May 2006 and August 2007. Company officials say the cups, which were made in China, could become a choking hazard.

The cups can break when dropped, leaving sharp exposed edges and small parts that could pose a choking risk, Starbucks said.

No serious injuries have been reported, but the company has received seven reports of broken cups, including two in which a child began to choke on a cup piece, according to a company statement released in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Starbucks, based here, is offering a refund for the cups, which sold for $6, as well as a free beverage as an incentive to return the item.