Toronto-based manufacturer California Innovations, in conjunction with the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), has expanded a January recall of freezer gel packs used in insulated lunch boxes and food containers. Six varieties of the “Cryofreeze” and “Arctic Zone” gel packs were recalled on June 7, totaling approximately 880,000 units, up from 303,000 units earlier this year.
The January recall affected cooler packs and bags sold by retailers such as Costco and Walmart and pertained to two specific gel packs. With the expanded number of units and item numbers in the recent recall, Promo Marketing asked what the chances were that the affected California Innovations items entered the promotional industry.
“None whatsoever,” said Larry Whitney, manager of trade compliance for Leed’s, which has exclusive distribution rights for California Innovations items in the promotional products industry. “Our products are not affected by this recall.”
Whitney told Promo Marketing that the New Kensington, Pennsylvania-based supplier only carries specific products from the California Innovations line, none of which include the affected gel packs. “We select those products that we think are best for our industry, and to keep the price attractive, we might eliminate things like gel packs,” he said. “They’re not in our products.”
According to both California Innovations and the CPSC, items with the recalled gel packs were sold between July 2007 and December 2008 at mass merchandise and warehouse stores, other retailers, distributors and online sellers nationwide. California Innovations coolers did not become available through Leed’s until January 2009.
“I think the recalls that were issued yesterday were very specific. They indicate that they were sold by California Innovations at retail stores and online, but they are not part of the promotional products distribution,” Whitney said.
Since the affected products were only available through retail channels, distributors should remain unaffected. However, Whitney explained how some industry members could be impacted. “I’ve actually heard of some folks buying products retail, taking them to their local decorator and selling them for a markup,” he said. While uncommon, anyone engaging in a similar practice should be aware of the potential dangers.
Full details of the recall are available on the CPSC’s website.
