Popular face paints tainted, recalled by FDA

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If you’re one of those crafty or super-organized parents who has volunteered to be a room parent in your child’s classroom, you have staffed a face-painting table. And you are familiar with Oriental Trading Co. of Omaha -- the overflowing source of party favors, craft supplies and holiday decorations required for carrying out those duties.

Here’s a skunk-at-the-garden-party announcement for you:

FDA warned Tuesday that Oriental Trading Co.’s water-based face paints -- made in Shanghai -- recently caused an outbreak of rashes, itchiness, burning sensation and swelling on the tender faces of all those little ladybugs, pirates, tigers, dogs and bunnies whose parents set them down at the face-painting table. An FDA lab found ‘significant microbial contamination’ in the face-paint kits it tested after the flurry of reports, and Fun Express Inc., wholly owned by Oriental Trading Co., is recalling the face-paint kits.

FDA urges those who have the painting kits to discard them or return them to the retailer from whom they purchased them.

-- Melissa Healy