Consumer safety regulators issued an urgent warning on Saturday to people who own a Peloton Tread+, saying they should stop using the equipment after one child died and multiple others were injured after being sucked under the machine.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said the agency was aware of 39 incidents in which children and one pet got trapped under the machine.
In statement, it said: "CPSC staff believes the Peloton Tread+ poses serious risks to children for abrasions, fractures, and death. In light of multiple reports of children becoming entrapped, pinned, and pulled under the rear roller of the product, CPSC urges consumers with children at home to stop using the product immediately."
On Friday, the Washington Post reported that federal regulators have been pressuring Peloton to conduct a safety recall of its $4,295 treadmill.
Peloton on Saturday refuted the CPSC claims in a statement. It said: "The company is troubled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission's unilateral press release about the Peloton Tread+ because it is inaccurate and misleading."
It added: "There is no reason to stop using the Tread+, as long as all warnings and safety instructions are followed. Children under 16 should never use the Tread+, and Members should keep children, pets, and objects away from the Tread+ at all times."
The Peloton Tread+ went on sale earlier this year, promising to offer runners the same "private fitness studio" experience enjoyed by users of its indoor bicycle. The Peloton Tread+ is similar to most treadmill machines, with its main differentiator being the smart screen and content library of live and recorded workout classes.
In March, Peloton CEO John Foley emailed owners of the Tread+ to inform them of a "tragic accident involving a child" and the machine, "resulting in, unthinkably, a death."
To prevent future such accidents, he recommended adults removed the safety key after use, which would prevent the machine from operating.
"While we are aware of only a small handful of incidents involving the Tread+ where children have been hurt, each one is devastating to all of us at Peloton, and our hearts go out to the families involved," Foley said at the time.
