Skip to main content

Dunecraft Recalls Water Balz, Skulls, Orbs and Flower Toys Due to Serious Ingestion Hazard

  • Water Balz
  • Water Balz grow to 400 times their original size
  • Growing Skulls
  • H2O Orbs
  • Fabulous Flowers
Name of Product:
Water Balz, Growing Skulls, H2O Orbs "Despicable Me" and Fabulous Flowers toys
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.
Remedy:
Replace
Recall Date:
December 17, 2012
Units:
About 94,700 in the United States and 600 in Canada
Consumer Contact

Dunecraft Inc.; at (800) 306-4168, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or online at www.dunecraft.com and click on the recall tab for more information.

Recall Details

Description:

This recall involves marble-sized toys that absorb water and grow up to 400 times their original size. They were sold as Water Balz (round-shape), Growing Skulls (skull-shape), H2O Orbs "Despicable Me" (round-shape) and Fabulous Flowers (flower-shape). They were sold in packages of six in green, yellow, red, blue and black colors. "Dunecraft," the name of the toy and the model number are printed on the toy's packaging.

 

 

Name

Model Number

 Amount Recalled

Water Balz

BC-0338

81,000

Growing Skulls

BC-0320

11,850

H2O Orbs "Despicable Me"

DM-0447

  1,800

Fabulous Flowers

BC-0440

       36
Remedy:

Consumers should immediately take this recalled toy away from children and contact Dunecraft for a free replacement toy.

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. 

Sold At
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.
Manufactured In:
China and United States
Recall number:
13-071
Choose Your Recall Emails Get Notified About Each Recall via Email.

Related Recalls

Recalled Covered Wagon
Colony Brands Recalls Children’s Wood Wagons Due to Violation of Federal Lead Paint Ban and Lead Poisoning Hazard (Recall Alert)

Paint on the wood wagons, the plastic handles, and the red plastic cover contain levels of lead that exceed the maximums allowed. Excessive levels of lead can be toxic or cause other health problems to young children if the paint is ingested.  

Recalled Turbo Racer Playset
Backyard Play Systems Recalls Playsets with Wooden Roof Due to Entrapment Hazard (Recall Alert)

The wooden parts used to reinforce and create a decorative gable design on the wooden roof pose an entrapment hazard to children. Children can become trapped in the gap between the lower part of the roof structure and the bottom of the gable decoration.

Recalled Janod Children’s Shaving Kit
Juratoys Recalls Children’s Shaving Toys Due to Violation of Federal Phthalate Ban

The brown trim of the shaving kit bags contains levels of a regulated phthalate that exceed the prohibition of specific phthalates. Banned phthalates are toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health issues.

A Recalled “Cutie Spoovel” pink utensils
Ryan and Rose Recalls Children’s Eating Utensils Due to Choking Hazard (Recall Alert)

The handle of the Cutie Spoovel utensil can break off releasing small parts, posing a choking hazard for young children. 

Recalled Ocean Tray Puzzle
Wee Gallery Recalls Wooden Tray Puzzles Due to Choking Hazard

The octopus and elephant puzzle pieces can break, posing a choking hazard to young children.  

Recalled 8-Pack Scent Stamper Pens
Primark Recalls Scent Stamper Pens Due to Elevated Levels of Benzyl Alcohol; Risk of Skin Irritation

The purple Scent Stamper Pen has elevated levels of benzyl alcohol, posing a risk of skin irritation.  

About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years. Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
For lifesaving information:
SaferProducts.gov