Are Bingo Daubers Poisonous?

As a game that’s only legally allowed to be played by those over the age of 18, naturally, we wouldn’t expect a bingo dauber to get into a child’s hands.

However, that doesn’t mean it can’t happen; moreover, some of us have an unfortunate habit of chewing on pens out of nervousness – so are bingo daubers poisonous?

The good news is, the majority of bingo daubers nowadays are made with non-toxic chemicals, so if you should happen to get a little ink on your tongue, there’s no need to visit A&E.

Reputable bingo daubers are made using pigment, rather than more permanent, potentially risky chemicals such as dyes.

What is pigmented ink?

The difference between pigmented ink and standard dye is that pigment is made up of a fine powder which contains solid colourant particles that are suspended in a liquid carrier. Pigment is generally speaking non-toxic and easy to wash; however, care should be taken if daubers are being used in the presence of children.

While may modern inks are generally considered non-toxic, particularly those that may be used by children, it is nonetheless advised to ensure bingo daubers are kept away from mouths!

Non-toxic chemicals will certainly not cause death; however, in unfortunate cases of high consumption of this ink, they may cause symptoms such as skin irritation, though this is most common in printer ink.

Ones to watch out for

Though the majority of bingo daubers will now be made with non-toxic materials, there have been issues in the past concerning reported safety worries over some bingo dauber products.

Over in Canada, bingo daubers under the brand name “Dabbin’ Fever”, “Lucky Dab”, “Ultima Wink”, “Bingo Brite” and “Bingo Buddy” have all been noted as potentially dangerous brands due to the simple error of incorrect labelling.

These brands sold bingo daubers in a variety of colours and sizes. They were recalled because they did not meet the Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations standard for toxic products.

What should I do if I’m unsure?

Thankfully, though up to 2 million bingo daubers were affected between 2009 and 2010, there were no reported cases of harm coming to those who had bought them. However, the case did serve to highlight the importance of labelling products containing ink correctly.

If you are unsure, always look for “non-toxic” on the label. You can lower your risk even further by playing bingo online instead!