Aerosol String Streamers
CPSC Recall #90-040 — February 21, 1990
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 90-040 |
| Recall Date | February 21, 1990 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | Approximately 1,135,000 |
Product
Aerosol String Streamers
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today the voluntary recall of five different brands of aerosol string streamers. These products, used like confetti at birthday parties and other gatherings, are hazardous if sprayed near an open flame, due to the flammability of the propellant used with the products. The companies participating in this recall are Northeast Imports, Inc., Central Falls, RI; Masquerade, Inc., Brooklyn, NY; Topstone Industries, Inc., Danbury, CT; Franco-American Novelty, Co., Inc., Glendale, NY; and Fun World Inc., Carle Place, N.Y. Tests by the CPSC show that these products, marketed during the past year, are flammable and therefore banned under provisions of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act because of their use by children. Use of these products around flame sources such as birthday candles could result in serious burn injuries if the spray contacts a flame. The CPSC learned of this problem through consumer complaints to its hotline. Reports of serious burn injuries to both children and adults involving these and similar products have been investigated. Typically the victims are burned during birthday parties when friends or family spray the string streamer near or onto the candles of a birthday cake. The products are packaged in aerosol cans having various colored plastic overcaps indicating the color of the string streamer inside the can. Individual product identification is as follows: - Northeast Imports, Inc., Central Falls, RI 3.5 oz. cans having a lithographed or paper label with a green background labeled in part "Streamer Spray" - Masquerade, Inc., Brooklyn, NY 150 gram cans having a lithographed label with a white background labeled in part "MASQUERADE CRAZY STRINGS" - Topstone Industries, Inc., Danbury, CT 3.5 oz. cans having a lithographed label with a black background labeled in part "Tricky Fun String Environmentally Safe Contains No Fluorocarbons". (Cans of Tricky Fun String without this statement do not present the flammability hazard and are not being recalled.) - Franco-American Novelty Co., Inc., Glendale, NY 3.5 oz. cans having a lithographed label with a blue background labeled in part "GOOFY FLYING STRING" - Fun World Inc., Carle Place, NY 3.5 oz. and 7 oz. cans having a lithographed label reading in part "ITS FUN TYME! STRING CONFETTI" and an added clear adhesive label reading "SAFE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT FLUOROCARBON FREE." "STRING CONFETTI" cans which have had the clear adhesive label removed because of use are also being recalled. A total of approximately 1,135,000 cans of all five brands of string streamer were sold nationwide during the past year for less than $5.00 per can at retail. Consumers should immediately discontinue the use of these products and return them to the retail store where purchased for a full refund of the purchase price.
Hazard
These products, used like confetti at birthday parties and other gatherings, are hazardous if sprayed near an open flame, due to the flammability of the propellant used with the products.
Incidents & Injuries
Reports of serious burn injuries to both children and adults involving these and similar products have been investigated. Typically the victims are burned during birthday parties when friends or family spray the string streamer near or onto the candles of a birthday cake.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately discontinue the use of these products and return them to the retail store where purchased for a full refund of the purchase price.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.