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Consumer product recall

Retailer Carlton Cards and Distributor Master Toys recalls JA-RU's B'loonies Balloon Blowing Kit

Starting date:
February 25, 2015
Posting date:
February 25, 2015
Type of communication:
Consumer Product Recall
Subcategory:
Children's Products, Toys
Source of recall:
Health Canada
Issue:
Chemical Hazard
Audience:
General Public
Identification number:
RA-43875

Affected products

JA-RU's B'loonies Balloon Blowing Kit

Product description

These toys consist of a solvent mixture in a tube and one or more 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.  The JA-RU's B'loonies balloon blowing kits come with 8 tubes (4 assorted colours) and 8 pink straws.

Hazard identified

Children's balloon blowing kits are prohibited in Canada. The safety concern is that blowing the balloons exposes a child to inhaling the vapours of any solvents present.  Children can be fascinated with these products, and if they blow balloons 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.

Health Canada, retailer Carlton Cards, and distributor Master Toys have not received any reports of consumer incidents or injuries related to the use of these particular balloons blowing kits.

For some tips to help consumers choose safe toys and to help them keep children safe when they play with toys, see the General Toy Safety Tips.

Number sold

The recalled products were sold from November 7, 2014 to February 12, 2015.

Time period sold

Approximately 765 of the balloon blowing kits were distributed to Carlton Card Retail locations across Canada.

Place of origin

Manufactured in Taiwan.

Companies

Manufacturer
JA-RU Inc.
Jacksonville
Florida
UNITED STATES
Distributor
Master Toys Inc.
Vernon
California
UNITED STATES
Retailer
Carlton Cards
Various store locations across Canada

Images (select thumbnail to enlarge - opens in a new window)


What you should do

Consumer should immediately take any balloon blowing kits, no matter where purchased, away from children.  Consumers may return JA-RU's B'loonies Balloon Blowing Kits to local Carlton Cards stores for a full refund, or if the consumer prefers, dispose of the product in regular household trash in such a way that the kits cannot be reused.

For more information, consumers may contact retailer Carlton Cards by telephone at 1-800-333-6724. Retailers may contact distributor Master Toys by telephone at 1-323-582-8881.

Please note that the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act prohibits recalled products from being redistributed, sold or even given away in Canada.

Health Canada would like to remind Canadians to report any health or safety incidents related to the use of this product or any other consumer product or cosmetic by filling out the Consumer Product Incident Report Form.