Health Canada Says Stop Using These Balloon Blowing Kits
Health Canada is warning consumers to immediately stop using certain “Colour Balloon” balloon blowing kits previously available on Walmart.ca Marketplace and dispose of them according to municipal hazardous waste guidelines.
The alert covers two listings:
- “Colour Balloon” Magic Bubble Gum Balloons for Kids, Elastic Blow Up Plastic Bubbles with Straw, Safe Non-Toxic Indoor Outdoor Toy, Multi-Color 7-Pack — SKU 2V0SKPV6D7RQ.
- “Colour Balloon” KOYPTL Blow Bubble Balloon Toy with Straw for Toddlers Kids Ages 3+ — SKUs 6AN3SOQ0PTMW, 4B1NDHV7KTM0 and 3QCVF8FBWUN4.
Health Canada says children’s balloon blowing kits containing solvents are banned in Canada under the Toys Regulations of the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. Blowing the balloons can expose a child to solvent vapours. Extended blowing may cause euphoria, hallucinations, dizziness and difficulties coordinating voluntary movements. Prolonged exposure can lead to muscular twitching, unconsciousness and coma.
Health Canada says the products have been removed from sale online from Walmart.ca Marketplace and that it contacted the foreign third-party sellers. Walmart.ca Marketplace reported that 6 units of the affected products were sold in Canada. The advisory lists Tojiyi of Guangzhou, China, and PawBabyBloom of Wuhan, China, as distributors. To date, no incidents or injuries related to these products have been reported to Health Canada.
The Twikup Take
A banned solvent toy sold through an online marketplace is not a bargain — it is a cleanup job. If one of these kits is already in a toy box, keep it away from children and follow your municipality’s hazardous waste rules.
Image: AI-generated illustration.