Chile’s National Consumer Service (serenac) issued a safety warning for some women’s shoes sold at Falabella department store. Specifically, this year the retail company sold at least 912 pairs of shoes from PT clarks brand, model Breeze Step Navy/Dark Navy. This may contain excess azo dyes“implies a risk to consumer health and safety,” the agency said.

The information was provided to Sernac by Clarks, a United Kingdom-based international shoe manufacturer and retailer, who halted sales and voluntarily recalled some of its shoe styles globally because they contain harmful chemicals.

“The company reports that some dark blue samples found on its Breeze Step Navy and Breeze Step Dark Navy models contained azo dyes (CAS numbers 92-87-5 and 119-90-4). The results are inconsistent. Multiple tests show levels ranging between 32 and 190 parts per million,” Sernac warned.

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For this reason, people living in Chile who have compared the models mentioned above are entitled to a full refund of what they have paid. Consumers must go to the Falabella store where they purchased the footwear to return it and get a refund.

Clarks shoes are recalled globally

Clark International Ltd (“Clarks”) and several of its subsidiaries have announced a safety recall of a total of eight styles of women’s Breeze (in the Americas) and Brinkley (outside the Americas) shoes, all in navy or navy blue.

Globally, the safety recall will affect the following styles: Brinkley Step in navy blue; Breeze Step in navy blue; The Breeze Step is dark blue/white; Breeze Step in dark navy blue; Breeze Ave in dark blue; Brinkley Ave in dark navy blue; Brinkley Shore in navy blue; and Breeze Shore in navy blue.

“This recall occurs because testing of some of these shoe samples identified excessive levels of the chemical benzidine or dimethoxybenzidine, which were found in azo dyes and restricted in some jurisdictions. Prolonged direct contact with the upper material of the shoe can expose the wearer to these chemicals, which are toxic and can cause adverse health effects.

Clarks has notified all relevant regulatory authorities as appropriate and launched a full global recall of the affected styles. “No other colors of the model listed and no other Clarks products are affected by this issue, nor are they included in the recall.”, confirmed the company.