Dunecraft Inc., of Cleveland, Ohio, has recalled nearly 95,000 Water Balz, Growing Skulls, H2O Orbs “Despicable Me,” and Fabulous Flowers toys in the United States because they pose a serious hazard if ingested, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada (HC) just announced. An additional 600 toys were recalled in Canada.
The marble-sized toys absorb water and grow up to 400 times their original size. If ingested, the toy expands inside the body and causes intestinal blockage, resulting in vomiting, dehydration, and pain. The situation could be life threatening, the CPSC warns.
Ingested toys do not show up on an x-ray and must be surgically removed from the body. Dunecraft has received one report of an eight-month-old Texas girl who suffered an intestinal obstruction after swallowing a Water Balz. The infant had to undergo surgery to have the Water Balz removed.
Printed on the toys’ packaging is “Dunecraft,” the name of the toy, and the model number. The toys, manufactured in the United States and China, were sold in packages of six in green, yellow, red, blue, and black, for about $3 per package.
Water Balz (model no. BC-0338) and Growing Skulls (model no. BC-0320) 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 web sites, from September 2010 through November 2012. The H2O Orbs “Despicable Me” (model no. DM-0447) were sold exclusively at Universal Studios stores during June 2012. Fabulous Flowers (model no. BC-0440) were sold exclusively at Milaeger’s in Racine, Wisconsin from June 2012 through November 2012.
Consumers should immediately take the recalled toy away from children and contact Dunecraft for a free replacement toy. Dunecraft may be reached, toll free, at 800.306.4168 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday, or online at www.dunecraft.com.
