Jack-O-Lantern Votives (Wisconsin Pharmacal) - Safety Concern (1992)

Check Your Product

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Reason for Recall

As stated by CPSC

October 30, 1992 Release # 93-011 PRODUCT: "Sundown Brand Pumpkin Scented Lamps", model numbers 934 and 935 and "Jack-O-Lantern Votive Lite", model number 940 by Wisconsin Pharmacal Company. PROBLEM: The lamps are not equipped with child-resistant closures, and the required warning labels are either inconspicuous or absent. The lamps contain liquid combustible petroleum distillates which could cause serious illness or death if ingested by a child. WHAT TO DO: Consumers should immediately return these products to the place of purchase for a refund. WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Wisconsin Pharmacal Company, Inc. of Jackson, WI is voluntarily recalling its model numbers 934 and 935 "Sundown Brand Pumpkin Scented Lamps" and model number 940 "Jack-O-Lantern Votive Light." The Halloween items are not equipped with child-resistant closures and the required warning labels are inconspicuous or absent. These products are all fuel burning lamps, intended for use as stand alone decorative lamps or as lamps to be placed inside carved pumpkins, contain liquid combustible petroleum distillates which can cause serious illness or death if ingested by a child. The model number 934 lamp is orange with black markings circling the orange container. An orange-colored chimney with black stars and jack-o-lantern around the circumference fits on the top of the container and is approximately the same diameter and height as the lamp. The model number 935 lamp is also orange in color and comes with a solid orange-colored and ribbed chimney. The lamp is decorated with black figures of bats, stars and carved pumpkins. Both lamps hold approximately 12 fluid ounces of petroleum distillate fuel. The model number 940 votive light is a solid orange color hard plastic container with no design on the container. Each votive light contains two fluid ounces of liquid petroleum distillate fuel. These lites are intended to be burned inside carved pumpkin jack-o-lanterns. None of the caps on these three styles of lamps is child- resistant as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. A warning label to alert consumers of the ingestion hazard and combustibility of the lamp fuel is required under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act. The CPSC enforces the requirement that any prepackaged, low viscosity, liquid kindling fuels or illumination preparations, such as fuel for decorative or functional lanterns which contain 10 percent or more by weight of petroleum distillates, must be supplied with child-resistant packaging. CPSC became aware of this packaging problem as a result of its ongoing hazardous substances and poison prevention packaging inspection programs. Consumers should immediately return these products to the store where purchased for a refund of the purchase price. Approximately 55,000 of these three models of lamps were sold to retail, discount and chain stores nationwide in 1991 and 1992. The lamps are labeled with either "Janelle Products, Inc." or "Wisconsin Pharmacal Company, Inc." on the bottom of the container or on attached labels. Most of the lamps and votive lights have hazardous substance warning labels on the side of the container, but some warning labels may not be visible due to lack of contrasting coloring or may be missing altogether. Wisconsin Parmacal Company, Inc. initiated the recall of these lamps because of the potential hazard to children from drinking the liquid in the lamps dueto the lack of child- resistant packaging. Neither the recalling firm nor the Commission is aware of any ingestion or poisoning incidents due to the Sundown brand liquid candles. The Commission is aware of several ingestions and at least one death since 1990 from similar products

Recommended Action

Per CPSC guidance

The CPSC advises consumers to stop using the product. Contact the manufacturer or return the product to the place of purchase.