iPhone cases recalled as leaking liquid leaves 'permanent scarring from chemical burn'

A range of glittery cases designed for the iPhone are being urgently recalled across the US, UK, Canada and Mexico after a liquid used in the product leaked out and caused "skin irritation and chemical burns" to dozens of customers, a US regulatory body revealed.

The US distributor of the product, MixBin Electronics, said that roughly 263,000 of the smartphone cases would need to be sent back and stressed that customers would receive full refunds. The products were manufactured by Dongguan Banghui Plastic Electronics in China.

"One consumer reported permanent scarring from a chemical burn and another consumer reported chemical burns and swelling to her leg, face, neck, chest, upper body and hands," stated the filing from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission on 1 August.

There were 24 reports across the world of incidents relating to the liquid-filled iPhone cases, most involving skin irritation or chemical burning.

In the UK, the American distributor reportedly received reports of "itching, redness, and blisters due to the leakage of the liquid material in the product".

Among the 263,000 cases, MixBin said that 11,400 were sold in Canada and 400 in Mexico. The majority of complaints were received in the US, it added.

The products were sold via Amazon, Henri Bendel, MixBin, Nordstrom Rack, Tory Burch and Victoria's Secret stores from October 2015 through June 2017 for between $15 and $65.

The recall notice said: "Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cases and contact MixBin Electronics for a full refund.

"This recall involves all liquid glitter mobile phone cases for iPhone 6, 6s and 7. The cases contain liquid and glitter that are floating in the plastic case. They were sold in various styles and colours and measure about 5.5 inches by 2.75 inches."

As noted by the New York Post, MixBin has not revealed what the liquid used in the cases actually was but one description on Amazon branded it as a "safe food grade snow globe liquid".

The Consumer Product Safety Commission handles cases when the public is put in danger from consumer products. On its website, it claimed that deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents amount to more than" $1 trillion" ever year in the US.

You can read the recall notice to check if your case needs to be returned.