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CPSC recall · Reported October 4, 2016

Sargent Art Recalls Craft Paints Due to Risk of Exposure to Bacteria

The paint can contain harmful bacteria. Exposure to certain bacteria can have adverse health effects in immunocompromised individuals, posing a risk of serious illness including a…

Recall #
17003
Affected scope
About 2.8 million units of paint in the U.S. (in addition, 20,000 units in Canada)
Verify with CPSC →
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Sargent Art, of Hazleton, Pa. recalled This recall involves 13 types of Sargent Art tempera and finger paints. All colors and si… - a moderate-severity action.

Sargent Art Recalls Craft Paints Due to Risk of Exposure to Bacteria was recalled by Sargent Art, of Hazleton, Pa. in October 4, 2016. Reason: The paint can contain harmful bacteria. Exposure to certain bacteria can have adverse health effects in immun…. Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled paints and contact Sargent Art for a…. Verify recall #17003 with the CPSC before acting.

The recall

Sargent Art, of Hazleton, Pa. issued this moderate-severity CPSC recall-The paint can contain harmful bacteria. Exposure to certain bacteria can have adverse health effects in immun….

Moderate
severity level
October 4, 2016
reported

Sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Verify recall #17003 with the agency before acting. Full product description, hazard, remedy, and related recalls are below.

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #17003) was formally reported on October 4, 2016. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Sargent Art, of Hazleton, Pa. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records list the affected scope as About 2.8 million units of paint in the U.S. (in addition, 20,000 units in Canada).

The documented reason for this recall is: The paint can contain harmful bacteria. Exposure to certain bacteria can have adverse health effects in immunocompromised individuals, posing a risk of serious illness including a bacterial infection. Consumers with hea… 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 recalled paints and contact Sargent Art for a full refund. - consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.

Within the same product category the archive holds 6 closely related recalls, 6 from CPSC - clustering in a narrow category often points to a systemic quality-control or supplier issue rather than a one-off defect. Always verify the recall number against the official agency record before acting.

Household Products recalls over time

Where this recall sits in its category - 3,056 household products recalls on record

50100150200250 20052008201120142017202020232026 115
Severity2487872426High severity (most serious)Moderate severityLow severity
Where this recall sits in the database

Of 101,704 recalls in the database, 24,878 are high severity, 72,426 moderate, and 4,400 low. This recall is classified moderate severity.

Counts reflect market size and reporting activity, not inherent danger, we do not rank products by risk from raw recall volume.

Severity

Moderate

Affected scope

About 2.8 million units of paint in the U.S. (in addition, 20,000 units in Canada)

Related Recalls

6

6 from same agency

Product description

This recall involves 13 types of Sargent Art tempera and finger paints. All colors and sizes of the following types of Sargent Art paints are included in the recall: Art-Time Tempera Paint Liquid Tempera Paint Art-Time Washable Finger Paint Supreme Tempera Paint Art-Time Washable Fluorescent Finger Paint Value Tempera Paint Art-Time Washable Fluorescent Tempera Paint Washable Finger Paint Art-Time Washable Glitter Finger Paint Washable Glitter Paint Art-Time Washable Paint Washable Tempera Paint Fluorescent Tempera Paint

Reason for recall

The paint can contain harmful bacteria. Exposure to certain bacteria can have adverse health effects in immunocompromised individuals, posing a risk of serious illness including a bacterial infection. Consumers with healthy immune systems are not generally affected by the bacteria.

Remedy, what to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled paints and contact Sargent Art for a full refund.

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the CPSC recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Severity class Moderate
Status Active
Recall number 17003
Date reported October 4, 2016
Date initiated October 4, 2016
Recalling firm Sargent Art, of Hazleton, Pa.
Affected scope About 2.8 million units of paint in the U.S. (in addition, 20,000 units in Canada)
Distribution Not disclosed
Official source CPSC notice →

Profile values are sourced directly from the official CPSC enforcement record. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

What to do with this recall

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled paints and contact Sargent Art for a full refund.

  • Check the recall number (17003) and product description against the item you own. Search the archive
  • Confirm the current status and remedy on the official CPSC notice before acting. CPSC notice
  • Follow the documented remedy (refund, replacement, repair, or disposal) rather than general advice. What to do next

This page summarizes the official CPSC record for research and awareness; it is not legal, medical, or safety advice. Verify with the issuing agency before acting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
This recall involves 13 types of Sargent Art tempera and finger paints. All colors and sizes of the following types of Sargent Art paints are included in the recall: Art-Time Tempera Paint Liquid Tempera Paint Art-Time Washable Finger Paint Supreme Tempera Paint Art-Time Washable Fluorescent Finger Paint Value Tempera Paint Art-Time Washable Fluorescent Tempera Paint Washable Finger Paint Art-Time Washable Glitter Finger Paint Washable Glitter Paint Art-Time Washable Paint Washable Tempera Paint Fluorescent Tempera Paint. Recalled by Sargent Art, of Hazleton, Pa.. Units affected: About 2.8 million units of paint in the U.S. (in addition, 20,000 units in Canada).
Why was this product recalled?
The paint can contain harmful bacteria. Exposure to certain bacteria can have adverse health effects in immunocompromised individuals, posing a risk of serious illness including a bacterial infection. Consumers with healthy immune systems are not generally affected by the bacteria.
What should consumers do?
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled paints and contact Sargent Art for a full refund.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on October 4, 2016. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 17003.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (17003) against your product. Visit the official CPSC website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
How do I report an injury from a recalled product?
Report injuries to the issuing agency: CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem, or FDA via MedWatch. Document the product (photos, model/serial numbers, purchase receipts) and seek medical attention. Injury reports help agencies track hazard patterns and may strengthen enforcement actions.

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Every figure on PlainRecalls is rendered directly from official FDA, CPSC and NHTSA recall records, no number is typed in by an editor. This recall: CPSC, reported October 4, 2016. Severity classes follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC and NHTSA by hazard type), and related-recall context is computed across the full archive. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.