Recalled for literally bursting out of their packaging a year ago this month, JAKKS Pacific's Spa Fantasy Aromatherapy Fountain and Bath Benefits kits from the company's Spa Factory line were "fixed" by including a second lid and instructions for the consumer to swap it out at home so the carbon dioxide that built up inside some containers could escape. This allowed JAKKS to continue selling the defective version of the product even after switching the caps on their production line for new batches. What consumers may not realize is how long it takes for these fix-it-yourself products to get through the supply chain, and they're still being sold a full year later. Depending on how JAKKS runs its supply chain, we could hit 2011 before they've all been sold.

At least thirteen consumers had been injured in 88 reports of exploding lids prior to the January 2009 recall; beyond the risk of injury from packaging shrapnel, the contents of the explody container include citric acid. Injuries so far have mostly been limited to eye irritation and cuts or bruises to the face.

But new incidents are raising the question of whether the CPSC went far enough in its negotiations with JAKKS to remedy the issue. Is it reasonable and fair to consumers to permit a company sell them a product which, if left untouched, may explode? I'm not sure I've heard of another product like that.

KHOU has just reported on one Houston area family's unpleasant experience (video below), and notes that JAKKS Pacific's hotline went unanswered despite numerous attempts to contact them about the issue.



You don't have to go far to find similar occurrences post-"fix". The sole customer review on Amazon for the Spa Fantasy Aromatherapy Fountain offers a second consumer's report of an exploding container, which was posted less than a month ago. "My niece loved this toy, so much that she actually wrote me a thank you note. Apparently the best part of the whole thing is that the kit exploded everywhere, which she said was "way cool" (but I'm not sure her mother appreciated). Because of this, I'm not sure I'd buy this brand again."