Aubrey Kendall
6 years ago
California Innovation’s Ice Gel Pack recall has been expanded, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced. The Ice/Hot and Ice Gel Packs were manufactured in China; imported by California Innovations Inc., of Toronto, Canada; and sold at mass merchandise and warehouse stores, other retailers, distributors, and on-line sellers nationwide between July 2007 and […]
California Innovation’s Ice Gel Pack recall has been expanded, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced.
The Ice/Hot and Ice Gel Packs were manufactured in China; imported by California Innovations Inc., of Toronto, Canada; and sold at mass merchandise and warehouse stores, other retailers, distributors, and on-line sellers nationwide between July 2007 and December 2008 in items that sold for between $5 and $28.
About 880,000 Ice/Hot and Ice Gel Packs are involved. About 248,000 units were recalled and included in lunch boxes. That January 2012 recall notice can be accessed at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12089.html. Another 55,000 Ice/Hot and Ice Gel Packs included in other food carriers were also recalled and that January 2012 notice can be accessed at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12090.html.
We previously wrote that Travelin’ Chef Expandable Thermal Food Carriers and Expandable Insulated Lunch Boxes with Freezer Gel Packs were recalled because freezer gel they contained posed a hazard if ingested. Both recalled products were manufactured in China and imported by California Innovations Inc. of Toronto, Canada.
In all cases, if the packs become damaged, they can leak gel that could contain diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which can cause illness if ingested in large amounts. To date, there have been no new reports of incidents or injuries.
The recalled products are Cryofreeze Ice/Hot Packs and Arctic Zone Ice Packs, which are gel-filled plastic pouches with either transparent- or opaque-sealed wrappers used to keep food hot or cold. The gel packs were sold separately and with a variety of lunch boxes, coolers, and thermal carriers. Six gel pack styles are being recalled:
Cryofreeze Ice/Hot Packs
Small and large styles, both with opaque blue wrappers that bear the words “Cryofreeze,” “Ice Pack/Hot Pack,” “Non-toxic,” and “Reusable” on the front. The small gel pack is 6 inches wide and 5.5 inches high; the large gel pack is 8.5 inches wide and 8 inches high.
Cryofreeze Transparent Cell Ice/Hot Packs
Three styles, each with a transparent wrapper bearing the words “Cryofreeze,” “Ice Pack/Hot Pack,” “Non-toxic,” and “Reusable” on the front. One 3-cell pack has three connected rectangular-shaped pouches of blue gel and is 7.85 inches wide and 5.5 inches high, another 3-cell pack has three connected square-shaped pouches of blue gel and is 7.6 inches wide and 3 inches high, and the 2-cell pack has two connected square-shaped pouches of blue gel and is 5 inches wide and 3 inches high.
Arctic Zone Ice Pack
6.25 inches wide and 4 inches high with an opaque blue wrapper. The Arctic Zone logo; a picture of an iceberg; and the words “ICE,” “Personal Ice Pack,” and “Non-Toxic Leak Proof Gel” are printed on the front of the wrapper.
The firm advises consumers to immediately stop using the gel packs and dispose of them according to federal, state, and/or local regulations. Consumers should contact their local waste disposal authority for instructions. California Innovations can be contacted for a $6 cash refund for large (8.5-inch x 8-inch) Cryofreeze gel packs or $5 cash refund for all other gel packs. California Innovations can be reached, toll-free, at 1.800.722.2545 from 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time (ET), Monday through Friday, by email at ci-recall@ca-innovations.com, or at the firm’s web site at www.californiainnovations.com.