Water Balz, Growing Skulls, H2O Orbs "Despicable Me" and Fabulous Flowers toys
CPSC Recall #13-071 - December 16, 2012
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 13-071 |
| Recall Date | December 16, 2012 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 94,700 in the United States and 600 in Canada |
| Manufactured In | China and United States |
Where It Was Sold
| Water Balz and Growing Skulls were sold at Bed Bath & Beyond |
| Five Below |
| Hobby Lobby |
| Lakeshore Learning Materials |
| Microcenter |
| Urban Outfitters Direct |
| Wegmans and other stores nationwide |
| and online at amazon.com |
| incrediblescience.com |
| keyporthobbies.com |
| americantoystores.com and other websites from September 2010 through November 2012 for about $3 per package. The H2O Orbs "Despicable Me" were sold exclusively at Universal Studios stores during June 2012 for about $3 per package. Fabulous Flowers were sold exclusively at Milaeger's in Racine |
| Wis. from June 2012 through November 2012 for about $3 per package. |
Product
Water Balz, Growing Skulls, H2O Orbs "Despicable Me" and Fabulous Flowers toys
Description
The marble-sized toy can expand inside the body and block the intestine. If these toys are swallowed, it can be life-threatening. One infant injury reported.
Hazard
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.
Incidents & Injuries
The firm received 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.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately take this recalled toy away from children and contact Dunecraft for a free replacement toy.
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.
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.