Health Canada product recalls in the weeks heading into holiday-gift giving included a mouldy storybook and a number of children’s toys considered choking hazards.
Among the most interesting of the recent product recalls and safety alerts issued by Health Canada was a batch of “That’s not my reindeer” colour illustrated board books considered likely to be contaminated by mould. Batch number 01848/24 of the book was affected by the recall. Books purchased should be returned to the retailer for a full refund.
Many other toy recalls occurred during the holiday season. Propeller blades on the Droplets Submarine Wind-Up Bath Toy can break off, causing small parts and sharp edges. This recall affects both the blue and white versions of the toy with a small figure seated inside. The choking hazard posed by small parts breaking off was responsible for the recall of the Janod Toy Trumpet, sold on its own or as part of the Music Live Musical Set. JAKKS Pacific Morfboard Skate & Scoot Combo was recalled because its Y-shaped handlebar can break, and the Btwin RunRide Kids Balance Bikes were recalled because the surface coating contained more barium than the safe allowable limit.
Holiday story-telling can involve so many unusual items dropping from the skies, including jolly, red-clad delivery men propelled by flying reindeer and sacks of gifts. Recent recalls feature a number of examples of objects that likewise unexpectedly lead to falls from the sky: ceiling fans, chandeliers, pole saw pruners and even people.
Hampton Bay Mara 54-inch ceiling fans (matte white and matte black) were recalled because the fan blades can detach during use, posing an injury hazard. More than 5,000 of these units were sold at Home Depot between May and October 2020.
Two different chandeliers share the same risk of inadequate support that poses a falling risk and potential injury hazard. So some models of the Jasper Park Chandelier and the RH Wine Barrel Chandeliers have each been recalled.
More than 94,000 Fiskars 16-foot extendable pole saw/pruners were sold in Canada from December 2016 onward. They have been recalled because the telescoping poles can separate when the locking mechanism is not fully engaged, causing the poles to fall down and the blade and pruner head to scrape or cut a user.
The Ripline Outdoor Zipline models RIP.884 and RIP.904P sold through Canadian Tire were recalled because the trolley can break. There were three reports of this breakage in Canada, with two reports of injury. Alliance Outdoor Products X-Stand Treestands were recalled because of the hazard the corrosion of cable assemblies will lead to toppling Christmas trees. And Zinus Metal Bunk Beds model OPLBB (twin-over-twin) were recalled because the welds that secure the upper bunk can come apart, causing the upper bunk to collapse.
Health Canada’s online database is searchable, which is important because there is no guarantee that a Health Canada recall notice will make products disappear from store shelves or web sites.
Health Canada also provides a number of Twitter feeds, email notifications and mobile apps to help consumers stay aware of recalls and warnings. A Consumer Product Incident Report Form exists that consumers can use if they experience health or safety incidents.
Consumers who may be worried safety regulators are not giving product safety problems the attention they deserve can also share their experiences online at the Consumers Council of Canada homepage.