Consumer Product Update - Health Canada warns of dangerous oils, oil lamps, oil candles and fire pot inserts sold by Firefly
OTTAWA, May 5, 2017 /CNW/ -
Issue:
Health Canada is advising consumers of the potential dangers posed by lamp oils and other related products sold by Firefly. These oil lamps, candles, fire pot inserts and the oils sold by Firefly do not have child-resistant closures or display the proper warning information. The oil lamps, oil candles and fire pot inserts are intended to be used with paraffin or citronella lamp oil.
Liquid paraffin and citronella oil can pose a danger to human health, especially to children, if consumed. Accidently drinking liquid paraffin or citronella oil can cause you to cough up or vomit up the oil. This coughing or vomiting causes small particles of the oil to travel into the lungs, and may result in severe health effects including injury to the lungs or death. Other oils sold by Firefly may also pose the same hazard.
Health Canada has contacted Firefly, which is based in the United States, and has requested the company voluntarily recall the affected products. To date, Health Canada has not received a response to this request and is therefore advising Canadians of the potential risks posed by these products. The products were available for purchase in Canada through Amazon.ca and have been removed from sale.
Firefly oils, oil lamps, oil candles and fire pot inserts were sold in Canada for an unknown period of time on Amazon.ca and potentially other retailers.
An unknown number of units were sold in Canada.
Products affected:
The Firefly oil lamps and candles consist of an oil-burning fiberglass wick. These oil lamps and candles come in 11 different shapes and sizes. The fire pot insert measures approximately 4" H X 3"W X 2" and includes a half-inch fiberglass wick.
The Firefly oils are sold in a variety of sizes. The oil lamps, candles and fire pot inserts may be sold to include the following types of oil:
| Fuels |
Types |
| Paraffin Lamp Oil |
Citronella Paraffin Lamp Oil and Eucalyptus Paraffin Lamp Oil |
| Clean Lamp Oil |
Citronella Clean Lamp Oil and Eucalyptus Clean Lamp Oil |
| Tiki Torch Fuel |
Citronella Tiki Torch Fuel and Eucalyptus Tiki Torch Fuel |
| Safe & Green Fuel |
Guardian Safe & Green Fuel |
What you should do:
Consumers should immediately stop using the affected fuels, oil lamps, oil candles and fire pot inserts and dispose of them according to their municipality's hazardous waste guidelines.
Not all consumer products that are found online meet Canadian regulatory requirements. Sometimes, these products may not have the necessary labelling or instructions, which could lead to misuse or injury.
Like many other jurisdictions, in Canada, consumer products are not approved before they are sold. They are monitored for safety after they have been released onto the market, but not every product is tested. It's important for consumers to make informed decisions about their purchases, especially those made online. Learn more about the potential risks of buying consumer products online.
What Health Canada is doing:
Health Canada's inspection program has found that the affected products do not meet the labelling and packaging requirements for consumer chemical products as set out under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. Health Canada requested that the seller, Firefly, conduct a recall of the product. In the absence of a voluntary recall by Firefly, Health Canada is warning Canadians of the potential risks posed by these products.
Our Government is committed to helping protect Canadians from potentially dangerous consumer products. Health Canada regularly tests consumer products on the Canadian market and will continue to monitor products to help keep consumers safe. The Department may take further action, if required.
Report health or safety concerns:
If you experience a health or safety problem with any product that you use, report it to Health Canada and to the manufacturer or the retailer where it was bought.
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SOURCE Health Canada
For further information: Media Enquiries: Health Canada, (613) 957-2983; Public Enquiries: (613) 957-2991, 1-866 225-0709
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