California Innovations Expands Recall of Freezer Gel Packs Due to Ingestion Hazard

Recalled June 7, 2012 · CPSC recall 12195 · California Innovations

Hazard

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.

Remedy

Refund

Units

About 880,000 (about 248,000 units associated with lunch boxes and 55,000 associated with food carriers were previously recalled in January 2012)

Incidents / injuries

There have been no new reports of incidents or injuries.

Description

The recalled products are Cryofreeze ice/hot packs and Arctic Zone ice packs. The packs are gel-filled plastic pouches with either transparent or opaque sealed wrappers. They are 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 in small and large styles. Both have opaque blue wrappers with the words "Cryofreeze," "Ice Pack/Hot Pack," "Non-toxic" and "Reusable" printed 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 in three styles. Each has a transparent wrapper with the words "Cryofreeze," "Ice Pack/Hot Pack," "Non-toxic" and "Reusable" printed 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. 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 is 6.25 inches wide and 4 inches high and has an opaque blue wrapper. The Arctic Zone logo and a picture of an iceberg appear on the front of the wrapper. The words "ICE," "Personal Ice Pack" and "Non-Toxic Leak Proof Gel" are also printed on the front of the wrapper.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the gel packs and dispose of them according to federal, state and/or local regulations. It is recommended that consumers contact their local waste disposal authority for instructions. Consumers can contact California Innovations to receive a $6 cash refund for large (8.5-inch x 8-inch) Cryofreeze gel packs or a $5 cash refund for all other gel packs.

Contact

For additional information, call California Innovations at (800) 722-2545 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, e-mail [email protected] or visit the firm's website at www.californiainnovations.com

Product

Ice/Hot and Ice Gel Packs

Imported by

California Innovations Inc., of Toronto, Canada

Retailers

Mass merchandise and warehouse stores, other retailers, distributors and on-line sellers nationwide between July 2007 and December 2008 in items that retailed between $5 and $28.

Made in

China

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Official recall notice on cpsc.gov →