Bursting Bubbles: Fitness Balls Recalled
Jacksonville – From tainted to foods to dangerous car malfunctions to defective baby toys: when there is a new product recall, Americans tend to take note. However, the latest recall is more likely to perplex people than it is to worry them.
On Thursday, EB Brands announced a voluntary recall of three million exercise balls, explaining that the balls could burst unexpectedly if overinflated, which goes against the brand’s claim that their balls are burst-resistant. The list of possibly defective balls include Bally Total Fitness, Everlast, and Valeo.
For many people who do not use exercise balls on a regular basis, it may be hard to understand what the hubbub is all about. Exercise balls are large, inflated rubber balls, designed to help assist in a variety of exercise techniques. They can be sat on or laid on in a number of ways to try to manipulate different muscles, such as the abs or back. Because of this, it is essential for an exercise ball to meet certain safety standards. A ball that could unexpectedly burst could cause a fall from a rather precarious position.
In fact, since 2000, forty-seven users of EB Brand exercise ball have reported that their ball burst, some of whom have been injured. Most of the injuries were bruises, though one fracture was reported.
Perhaps because of this, the EB Brand recall is only good for balls that have already burst. For the rest of those who use EB Brands, it is recommended to exercise with caution.
Consumers should contact EB Brands by calling 800-624-5671 or by visiting ebbrands.com, in order to receive updated inflation instructions.
Name of Product: Bally Total Fitness, Everlast, Valeo and Body Fit Fitness Balls
Units: About 3 million
Manufacturer: EB Brands, of Yonkers, New York
Hazard: An overinflated fitness ball can unexpectedly burst while in use, causing the user to fall to the floor.
Incidents/Injuries: EB Brands has received 47 reports of fitness balls unexpectedly bursting, including reports of a fracture, and multiple bruises.
Description: This recall involves rubber fitness balls sold in 55-, 65- and 75-cm diameter sizes. The fitness balls were sold with a pump and inflation instructions. The fitness balls were sold in various colors with the Bally Total Fitness, Everlast or Valeo logo printed on the ball.
Sold at: Department stores and fitness retailers nationwide from May 2000 to February 2009 for between $15 and $30.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should contact EB Brands to receive a copy of the updated instructions on how to safely inflate the ball.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact EB Brands at (800) 624-5671 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.ebbrands.com
I think that one thing people should make sure to understand — and it’s not being reported — is that EB Brands actually approached the CPSC to find a way to better inform users of overinflation.
The term “product recall” is misleading, as no EB Brand balls will be removed from shelves. Below is the official statement from the company regarding the CPSC announcement:
“Today the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and EB Brands have issued a joint press release announcing a voluntary product recall regarding fitness balls produced by EB Brands. The purpose of this statement is to share some additional details not provided in the press release.
Since 2000, EB Brands has received 47 complaints of burst balls out of its 3 million fitness balls sold in the United States. After conducting research on the product, we concluded that bursting balls are likely caused by the consumer overinflating the ball before use. Even with a complaint rate of only 0.0016%, we voluntarily approached the CPSC in late 2008 to seek their advice and guidance.
The CPSC agreed with our findings and together we worked out a plan to warn consumers about the risk of overinflation and to help consumers inflate fitness balls to the proper size.
No product will be removed from retail shelves or pulled from the marketplace, as the CPSC did not recommend or require EB Brands or our retail partners to do so.
To ensure the safety of EB Brands customers, the following actions have been taken:
*Create and place a new sticker inside the product box and on the pump cautioning consumers about the risk of overinflation
*Revise inflation instructions included in the product package
*Make available a measuring tape for consumers to measure the size of inflated fitness balls – available by calling EB Brands or logging onto http://www.ebbrands.com
*Offer replacement balls or refunds to consumers whose balls have burst
*Distribute a letter and informational poster to each retailer that has carried EB Brand fitness balls
EB Brands takes the safety of our consumers seriously. We anticipate that these changes will further ensure the safe and effective use of inflatable fitness balls.”