Sodium Hydroxide, Lye/Caustic Soda and Potassium Hydroxide, Caustic Potash Ash
CPSC Recall #20-093 — March 18, 2020
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 20-093 |
| Recall Date | March 18, 2020 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 103,000 |
| Manufacturer | Belle Chemical, of Billings, Mont. |
| Manufactured In | United States |
Where It Was Sold
| Amazon.com |
| Walmart.com |
| Ebay.com |
| Bonanza.com |
| Jet.com |
| Etsy.com and Bellechemical.com from February 2017 through January 2020 for between $4 and $16. |
Product
Sodium Hydroxide, Lye/Caustic Soda and Potassium Hydroxide, Caustic Potash Ash
Description
This recall involves sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide products that are sold in three sizes: 4 ounce, 8-ounce and 1-pound. The products are labeled as being used for soaps, cleaners, water treatment, food preparation, pH buffer and metal dissolution. The potassium hydroxide products and the 4-ounce and 8-ounce sodium hydroxide products are sold in black resealable bags; the 1-pound sodium hydroxide product is sold in a white resealable bag. The sodium hydroxide product is stated as being food grade.
Hazard
The products contain sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide which must be in child resistant packaging as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA). The packaging of the products is not child resistant, posing a risk of chemical burns and irritation to the skin and eyes. In addition, the label on the product violates the Federal Hazardous Substance Act (FHSA) by omitting the word “poison” for poisonous chemicals and the mandatory hazard statement on the front on the packaging.
Incidents & Injuries
None reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately store the recalled products in a safe location out of reach of children and contact Belle Chemical for a free replacement child-resistant packaging and label to put on the product.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace 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 (Replace) at no cost to you.
If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
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.