Health Canada warns that balloon blowing kits available on Amazon.ca pose a chemical hazard
Summary
Immediately stop using the affected products and dispose of them according to municipal hazardous waste guidelines.
Affected products
Balloon blowing kits are toys that consist of a solvent mixture in a tube and short plastic straws for blowing. Children can form balloons or bubbles by slowly squeezing out a ball of the mixture from the tube and sticking it on the end of the straw. The child then blows through the straw to create a bubble.
This alert involves the following products:
- 15 pieces Bubble Ball Toy, Burst-Free Plastic Balloon, Colorful Magic Bubble Glue, Perfect Boys and Girls Gift (ASIN B0CXSTMWMQ)
- 2024 New Safe Magic Bubble Glue Toy Blowing Colorful Bubble Ball Plastic Space Balloon Fashion Accessories (ASIN B0C6THCKSB)
- Safe Magic Bubble Glue Toy Blowing Colorful Bubble Ball Plastic Space Balloon (ASIN B0C54V2QQG)
Issue
Children's balloon blowing kits are banned in Canada.
The safety concern is that blowing the balloons exposes a child to inhaling the vapours of any solvents present. If children blow this type of solvent containing balloon for extended periods they may experience early symptoms of central nervous system depression or dysfunction, including euphoria, hallucinations, dizziness, and difficulties with coordination of voluntary movements. Prolonged exposure can lead to more serious symptoms including muscular twitching, unconsciousness and coma.
What you should do
Consumers who have these affected products should immediately stop using them and dispose of the items according to municipal hazardous waste guidelines.
Regularly check the Healthy Canadians Recalls and Safety Alerts database for dangerous products and take action to remove items of concern.
Health Canada would like to remind consumers to report any health or safety incidents related to the use of these products or any other consumer product or cosmetic by filling out the Consumer Product Incident Report Form.
Related links
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Additional information
What is being done
Health Canada has banned balloon blowing kits in Canada under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act.
The products have been removed from sale online from Amazon.ca. Health Canada has contacted the foreign third-party sellers and is advising consumers to immediately stop using the balloon blowing kits. Health Canada reminds consumers to learn about the risks of buying consumer products online (see Related Links above).
Amazon.ca reported that 127 units of the affected products were sold in Canada between November 2023 and November 2024.
To date, no incidents or injuries related to these products have been reported to Health Canada.
Health Canada is committed to helping protect consumers from potentially dangerous consumer products. The Department regularly tests consumer products available for sale in stores or online and continues to monitor products to help keep consumers safe.
Details
Distributor
Cyf-us, China
DIEMTAO/NGO VI SI, Vietnam
HVJewelry/Pham Hong Viet, Vietnam
Place of Origin
Manufactured in China
Media and public enquiries
Media Enquiries
Health Canada
(613) 957-2983
Public Enquiries
(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709
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