Dunecraft Inc., of Cleveland, Ohio, is recalling a series of marble-sized toys that expand when in placed in water. The toys, can be swallowed and could cause a life threatening condition. What's more, the ingested toys do not show up on hospital x-rays and require surgery to be removed from the body.
According to the U.S. Consumer product Safety Commission, an 8-month-old girl from Humble, Texas, had to have an ingested a Water Balz surgically removed in August 2011.
Consumer Reports safety experts warn that safety should come first when choosing toy gifts for children. Among the safety advice: If it fits through a toilet-paper tube, it's a choking hazard and a small child should not have access to it.
Today's recall involves about 95,100 Dunecraft products sold in the U.S. and Canada at retailers such as Bed Bath & Beyond. Five Below and online retailers such as Amazon.com. Consumers should immediately take away the following toys from children:
Name | Model Number | Amount Recalled |
Water Balz | BC-0338 | 81000 |
Growing Skulls | BC-0320 | 11850 |
H2O Orbs "Despicable Me" | DM-0447 | 1800 |
Fabulous Flowers | BC-0440 | 36 |
Consumers can also contact Dunecraft (800-306-4168, www.dunecraft.com) to receive a free replacement toy.
Sources:
Dunecraft Recalls Water Balz, Skulls, Orbs and Flower Toys Due to Serious Ingestion Hazard [CPSC]
Recall: Wall Balz toys [Health Canada]
Our commitment to safety [Dunecraft]