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Posted on April 18, 2009 | tags

 
 

Biz, U.S.: Know those giant fitness balls? They’re getting recalled en masse

  • The “burst-resistant” balls apparently burst. If you go to a gym where someone’s stretching on a big plastic ball, or are in an office where someone at their desk is sitting on a giant ball claiming it helps their back, you’ve seen ‘em. Apparently, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (along with manufacturer EB Brands) is voluntarily recalling 3 million of the balls, saying that they can burst when overinflated, causing the person sitting on them to fall. The company, which manufactures them under such brand names as Everlast and and Valeo, received 47 reports of just that sort of thing happening. Yikes. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • Permalink


 
  • Aaron Walker

    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.”

  • Aaron Walker

    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.”

  • Ernie Smith

    We noted this in the post, Aaron. We realize, based on your e-mail address, that you’re a PR person and get paid to do this, but really, it’s not necessary.

  • Ernie Smith

    We noted this in the post, Aaron. We realize, based on your e-mail address, that you’re a PR person and get paid to do this, but really, it’s not necessary.

 

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