The Recall Desk
HighCPSC·97164·Announced 1997-07-30

Mardo International Recalls Aguarras Paint Thinner for Packaging Violations

Mardo International Distributors is recalling approximately 6,900 bottles of Aguarras paint thinner sold in Puerto Rico because the packaging is not child-resistant and lacks required safety warnings.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The product presents a serious poisoning hazard with potential for death, but the source explicitly states that no injuries have been reported, fitting the rubric for risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

Mardo International Distributors of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, is recalling about 6,900 bottles of Aguarras mineral spirits paint thinner in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The product is sold in a 6-ounce glass bottle with a red and yellow label and is labeled in Spanish. The packaging violates the Federal Hazardous Substances Act and the Poison Prevention Packaging Act because it is not child-resistant and does not include necessary warnings, cautions for use, or instructions for appropriate first aid in case of ingestion. Additionally, the packaging resembles a liquor flask.

Paint thinner presents a serious poisoning hazard that can cause chemical pneumonia, pulmonary damage, and death. CPSC and Mardo International Distributors are not aware of any injuries involving this product, and the recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury. The packaging violation was discovered by the Puerto Rico Department of Consumer Protection as part of an ongoing joint enforcement program with CPSC.

The paint thinner was sold in small retail stores, some referred to as "Botanicas," throughout Puerto Rico from July 1996 through April 1997 for about $1. Consumers should immediately stop using the product and return it to the store where purchased for a full refund. For more information, consumers can call Mardo International Distributors at (787) 764-6106 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday. Operators are available to speak both English and Spanish.

The recalled product

Product
Aguarras Paint Thinner Recall by Mardo International
Manufacturer
Botanicas
Category
Consumer Product — Paint & Coating Items
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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