08 February 2023 , 15:06
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Parents have hit out at Asda after claims their confetti balloons could pose a choking hazard to people blowing them up.
The party balloons by the supermarket's George Home brand come with confetti inside, which some customers claim to have nearly choked on after accidentally inhaling them.
Mum Sara Dawson said she was left coughing and spluttering after one piece of confetti was accidentally sucked to the back of her throat while inflating the decoration.
The 42-year-old parent from Keighley, West Yorkshire, branded the balloons "bloody dangerous".
"We were blowing them up and when you inhale to exhale again, the confetti gets sucked into the back of your throat," she said.
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Sara Dyson said the balloons were a health and safety hazard (Sara Dyson / SWNS)"My daughter laughed at me while she was blowing hers up and then she inhaled them herself - for a second it was actually quite scary."
Georgie Young, 31, sparked debate after posting about the balloons on Facebook after she found it difficult and "long-winded" to add the confetti.
But other parents responded saying they feared their children may swallow the confetti - which could be dangerous.
Georgie Young prompted debate about the balloons after posting about them on Facebook (Georgie Young / SWNS)
Parents say the confetti balloons could be a major hazard for choking after getting confetti pieces lodged in their throats (Georgie Young / SWNS)Asda's packaging makes it clear the product is a potential hazard, that a pump is recommended and children should be supervised.
One mum from south London said she too nearly choked on the product.
Chloe, 29, who did not want to give her last name, said: "It was extremely fiddly getting the confetti in, and when I went to blow up the balloon, I ended up with a mouthful of the stuff.
"It took a few seconds before I managed to get it all out before choking.
Chloe got pieces of confetti stuck in her throat while blowing up the balloons (SWNS)"At first I thought it was funny, hence the expression in the photo. But if that was a child it would have definitely been a huge choking issue."
Mum Jamie Newman bought the balloons for her daughter's birthday when she accidentally got one of the pieces of confetti lodged in her throat.
"Instead of going into the balloon it all shot to the back of my throat and got stuck for a few seconds," said Jamie, 37, from Baldock, Hertfordshire.
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"But luckily I managed to cough it out."
Jamie Newman choked on a piece of confetti but was able to cough it back up again (Jamie Newman / SWNS)A spokesperson for Asda said: "There are clear instructions on the packaging of this product which state that the use of a balloon pump is recommended.
"There are also warnings advising that the product is not suitable for children.
"If a customer has an issue with any of our products, we encourage them to contact us directly so that we can try to understand their concerns.”