Balloons with printed smiley faces withdrawn from market over cancer-causing chemicals
The balloons release too much of a substance that creates nitrosamines, which may cause cancer if a child touches them or puts them in the mouth, and they do not meet the Toy Safety Directive or EN 71-12.
What to do
Measure taken: Withdrawal of the product from the market (economic operator: Other), in force from 31/07/2025.
Note from Recalled Today: If you own this product, stop using it and contact the seller.

Image: Safety Gate (European Commission)

Image: Safety Gate (European Commission)
Notice details
- Product
- Balloons
- Hazard
- The balloons release an excessive amount of nitrosatable substances (measured value: 1.27 mg/kg) which generate nitrosamines. Nitrosamines may cause cancer through ingestion or dermal exposure. A child could be exposed to them when touching or putting the product in the mouth. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive nor with the European standard EN 71-12.
- Class or risk level
- Serious risk
- Notifying country
- Germany
- Countries that reacted
- Luxembourg
- Identifiers
- Alert number: SR/03977/25
- Model or type: ROQT, SanQiu
- Batch number: S0003157
- Measure in force since
- 31/07/2025
- Published on Safety Gate
- November 7, 2025
- Listed on Recalled Today
- November 7, 2025
The headline, summary and steps above are written in plain English from the official notice below. Identifiers are copied exactly as the agency published them. Always check the official notice before you act.
Official notice
The notice's own wording from Safety Gate.
Balloons
- Product
- Product: Balloons Description: Balloons in various colours with printed-on smiley faces. Product sold online, in particular via Amazon (ASIN: B09W9GXCKB).
- Risk
- Risk type: Chemical The balloons release an excessive amount of nitrosatable substances (measured value: 1.27 mg/kg) which generate nitrosamines. Nitrosamines may cause cancer through ingestion or dermal exposure. A child could be exposed to them when touching or putting the product in the mouth. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive nor with the European standard EN 71-12.
- Measures taken
- Withdrawal of the product from the market (economic operator: Other), in force from 31/07/2025
- Country of origin
- People's Republic of China
Source: European Commission, Safety Gate (CC BY 4.0); summary edited by Recalled Today CC BY 4.0 · Safety Gate
Recalled Today is independent and is not an official government page.
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