CPSC, Wal-Mart Announce Recall of Candles Because of Flammable Paint

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #04049) was formally reported on December 12, 2003. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Qingdao Kingking Applied Chemistry Co., Ltd., China is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate 69,804 units of the Snow House Candle gift set; 29,064 units of the Snowman Candle gift set; and 62,428 units of the Snowflake Candle gift set units are affected, placing this recall in the million-unit bracket that typically triggers nationwide consumer alerts and retailer sweeps.

The documented reason for this recall is: Paint on the exterior surface of the candles could potentially sustain flame, posing a potential fire hazard. Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details. The remedy documented by the agency is: Consumers should immediately stop using the product and return the candle gift set to Wal-Mart for a full refund. — consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 6 were also issued by CPSC. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 23 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.