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Glass fish bowls

CPSC Recall #16-038 - November 17, 2015

Recall Summary

Recall Number16-038
Recall DateNovember 17, 2015
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedAbout 81,300 in the U.S. and 4,000 in Canada (an additional 10,200 were recalled in the U.S. on April 24, 2014 and 1,000 were previously recalled in Canada)
ManufacturerShanghai Freeart Trading Co. Ltd., of China
ImporterPetSmart Inc., of Phoenix, Ariz.
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

PetSmart stores nationwide from March 2010 through September 2013 for about $20.

Product

Glass fish bowls

Description

The glass bowl can crack, shatter or break during normal handling, posing a laceration hazard.

Hazard

The glass fish bowls can crack, shatter or break during normal handling, posing a laceration hazard to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

PetSmart has received 20 new reports of the glass fish bowl breaking during normal use, including 14 additional reports of cuts to fingers and hands. Seven cuts required stitches and three others required surgery for lacerated tendons.  

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately stop using the fish bowl and return the fish bowl to any PetSmart store for a full refund. Use caution when handling the fish bowl for return due to the hazard. 

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.

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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.

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