The announcement from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Tuesday this week was met with shock and alarm from parents and consumers across the world.
According to the CPSC, China-based toy maker Zuru had opted to recall over 7.5 million copies of their popular bath and swimming toys after reports came in from around the world of children being injured by the toys.
The recalled toys in question are the Robo Alive Junior Baby Shark Sing Swim Bath Toys and the mini-size Robo Alive Junior Mini Baby Shark Swimming Bath Toys. Reports of these toys impaling, cutting, and stabbing children have been flooding in over the past week, some resulting in children being hospitalized or requiring stitches.
Zuru reported being cognizant of news of 12 minors who endured impalement traumas, lacerations, and piercing damages after tumbling or sitting on the life-size rendition of the singing and swimming water toy.
“Children experienced toy-related injuries to their genital, anorectal, and facial areas when they were using the recalled bath toys, particularly when a child slipped and fell or sat onto the hard plastic top fin of the shark in the bathtub or wading pool,” the company said in a media release.
So far, no injuries related to the recalled Mini Baby Shark bath toys have been reported, although the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has reported nine injuries that required children to receive stitches or other medical attention, as they stated in their news release.
At Kmart and Amazon, both in-store and online, the toy which singing and swimming ‘Baby Shark’ in the water can be purchased in Australia.
If you purchased any of the recalled toys, which were either full-size and sold between May 2019 and March 2023 or mini and sold from July 2020 to June 2023 at retailers such as Walmart or Target, the CPSC advises that you stop using them immediately and contact Zuru for a full refund.
