Face Paint Recall: Fun Express Children’s Face Paint Contaminated

The FDA has urged consumers to stop using Fun Express children’s face paint, as significant microbial contamination has been discovered. A number of children exposed to various colors of the face paint have experienced reactions.

The Fun Express face paint recall applies to six colors of face paint manufactured by Shanghai Color Art Stationary Company Limited, which were labeled as distributed by Oriental Trading Co., the parent company of Fun Express, Inc.

A group of children exposed to the face paint on the same day at an organized event reportedly experienced severe rashes, itchiness, burning sensations and swelling where the water-based face paint was applied.

Subsequent testing of the products by an FDA laboratory confirmed that most of the face paints were contaminated.

Although the confirmed face paint reactions reported by the FDA so far were limited to one event, the Fun Express face paints were distributed nationwide through retailers and on the internet.

The following face paints are included in the recall:

• Fun Express Blue Face Paint – Item Number 85/2077 – UPC 8 8760048110 7
• Fun Express Purple Face Paint – Item Number 85/2078 – UPC 8 8760048112 1
• Fun Express Red Face Paint – Item Number 85/2079 – UPC 8 8760048114 5
• Fun Express Orange Face Paint – Item Number 85/2080 – UPC 8 8760048116 9
• Fun Express Black Face Paint – Item Number 85/2081 – UPC 8 8760048118 3
• Fun Express Green Face Paint – Item Number 85/2082 – UPC 8 8760048120 6

The face paints have been removed from the market and the FDA has advised consumers to stop using them and discard any unused portion or return them to the retailer.

If a serious injury or reaction to the face paint has occurred, product liability lawyers recommend that any unused portion of the product be stored in a manner to prevent further use while preserving the face paint for testing that may be required if a lawsuit or legal claim is pursued.