The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week advised consumers to stop using certain face paints commonly used on children at festivals, parties and other special events because of reports of adverse skin reactions.

The paints, distributed by Oriental Trading Co. of Omaha, were manufactured in China. Fun Express Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Oriental Trading Co., is voluntarily recalling six face paints, the FDA said.

The FDA advises consumers to stop use of these products and discard them or return them to the retailer.

The FDA said it learned of a cluster of adverse events in children exposed to various colors of the face paint. All exposures occurred on the same day at an organized event and included rashes, itchiness, burning sensation, and swelling where the face paints were applied. Significant microbial contamination was indicated in most of the products in testing by an FDA laboratory, the agency said.

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