Beware of severe frostbite injury caused by dry ice in foodpackaging - CHOICE # 381

Don't underestimate the extent of damage that dry ice can inflict on tender skin.

As the hot summer months set in, consumers are cautioned in the handling of dry ice.

The Consumer Council cited an injury incident in which an 11-year-old girl bought an ice cream birthday cake packed with dry ice in a cardboard box.

During a 20-minute car ride, she had the cardboard box placed on her lap. She was wearing a pair of denim jeans and felt no pain whatsoever at the time.

Some half an hour later, she began to feel discomfort with red patches appearing on the sides of both thighs. After she returned home, she found the affected areas had enlarged and blisters started to appear.

The girl was taken to the hospital for treatment, and was diagnosed to be a case of severe frostbite injury involving approximately 2% of the total body surface area. She was hospitalized for 6 days and had to attend regular checkup.

It took her several weeks to completely heal and even after two years there were discoloured spots (dyspigmentation).

The Consumer Council has conducted a study based on 3 samples of ice cream cakes and 1 sample of 8 cups ice cream in one bag. All the samples were packed by the vendors with dry ice to last for two hours or more.

When the temperatures were measured one hour later, it was found that the dry ice was as cold as -82.1℃ to -72.4℃ while the bottom of each packaging box containing the ice cream cake from -39.3℃ to -59.1℃.

In the case of the 8 ice cream cups, the dry ice was originally placed atop the cups and the temperature of the bottom of the carrier bag was found to be -10.3℃. But should the dry ice be moved (as could happen in the course of transportation) to the bottom, the temperature dropped rapidly to -48.3℃.

In the study, it was found that only 2 of the 4 vendors gave any verbal warnings upon purchase, though 3 of the packaging boxes used did carry some warning statements or pictures to alert consumers to the potential hazard in the handling of dry ice.

Consumers are cautioned to handle dry ice with due care; wear a thick gloves or use utensils to handle dry ice and should they develop frostbites, rewarm the body parts with a warm water bath if possible. Avoid rubbing the part or using any home remedies/creams. Seek medical advice if necessary.

Vendors are urged to ensure that packaging using dry ice to keep ice cream products at suitable temperature should ensure that it is safe for consumers to carry around. Both verbal and written warnings in a clear manner should be issued to alert consumers to the potential hazard.