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Water Balz and Growing Skulls marketed by Dunecraft
- Starting date:
- December 17, 2012
- Posting date:
- December 17, 2012
- Type of communication:
- Consumer Product Recall
- Subcategory:
- Toys
- Source of recall:
- Health Canada
- Issue:
- Product Safety
- Audience:
- General Public
- Identification number:
- RA-16315
Joint Recall with Health Canada, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (US CPSC) and Dunecraft Inc.
Affected products
Water Balz and Growing Skulls marketed by Dunecraft
Product description
This recall involves marble-sized toys that absorb water and grow up to 400 times their original size.
They were sold as Water Balz (round shape, model number BC-0338), and Growing Skulls (skull shape, model number BC-0320). They were sold in packages of six in green, yellow, red, blue and black colours. "Dunecraft," the name of the toy and the model number are printed on the toy's packaging.
Hazard identified
When the marble-sized toy is ingested, it expands inside the body and causes a blockage in the small intestine, resulting in severe discomfort, vomiting, dehydration and could be life threatening. The toys do not show up on an X-ray and require surgery to be removed from the body.
CPSC is aware of one report of an 8-month-old girl from Humble, Texas who ingested a Water Balz and suffered an intestinal obstruction in August 2011. The Water Balz had to be surgically removed.
Health Canada has not received any reports of incidents or injuries in Canada.
For some tips to help consumers choose safe toys and to help them keep children safe when they play with toys, see Health Canada's: Toy Safety Tips.
Number sold
Approximately 600 units of the recalled products have been sold in Canada and 94,700 units have been sold in the United States at various retailers and Web sites.
Time period sold
The recalled products were sold from September 2010 to November 2012.
Place of origin
Manufactured in China and the United States.
Companies
- Distributor
-
Dunecraft Inc.
Cleveland
Ohio
UNITED STATES
Images (select thumbnail to enlarge - opens in a new window)
What you should do
Consumers should immediately take this recalled toy away from children and contact Dunecraft for a free replacement toy.
For more information, consumers can contact Dunecraft Inc. at 1-800-306-4168 ext.109, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site and click on the recall tab for more information.
Consumers may view the release by the US CPSC on the Commission's Web site.