Retailers to Stop Selling Water Beads Marketed to Children
Several major retailers, including Amazon, Target, and Walmart, have announced that they will no longer sell water beads marketed to children. This decision comes in response to mounting pressure from safety and consumer advocates, as well as policymakers, who are calling for a ban on these colorful, water-absorbing balls.
Consumer Reports revealed on Wednesday that Amazon, Target, Walmart, Etsy, and Alibaba will all halt sales and marketing of water beads for children. This move follows a warning issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) last month, highlighting the potential dangers of these toys if swallowed.
The CPSC has found that water beads can expand to many times their original size once inside a child's body. Infants and toddlers have been found with expanded water beads in their stomachs, intestines, ears, noses, and even lungs. According to the CPSC, these beads have resulted in approximately 7,800 emergency room visits between 2016 and 2022.
The sale of water beads marketed to children is being banned by several major retailers due to safety concerns. This decision comes after a series of recalls and incidents involving the ingestion and choking hazards of these beads.
In September, Buffalo Games announced a recall of water bead activity kits sold exclusively at Target, following the death of a 10-month-old in Wisconsin who swallowed a bead, and a serious injury to another 10-month-old in Maine last year.
Amazon, Etsy, Target, and Walmart have all confirmed their new policies to ban the sale of water beads marketed to children. Amazon stated that it is committed to ensuring the safety of products offered in its store and has dedicated teams to monitor and prevent the listing of unsafe and noncompliant products.
Alibaba has also announced a ban on the sale of water beads to the U.S. in an October press release.
Target spokesperson mentioned that the company will no longer sell water beads marketed to children ages 12 and under, citing growing safety concerns. Walmart has already taken steps to remove expanding water bead toy and craft items from its stores and online.
An Etsy spokesperson has confirmed that water beads are not allowed to be sold on its platform, regardless of their marketing or intended use.
In November, Representative Frank Pallone from New Jersey introduced legislation to ban water beads that are marketed to children. He mentioned at a news conference that major retailers like Walmart, Amazon, and Target also sell these products in various forms.
The lawmaker emphasized the widespread availability of water beads, stating that a recent search on Amazon resulted in 3,000 listings for these items.
