Three of the nation’s main retailers have voluntarily agreed to cease promoting water beads marketed towards youngsters, as considerations develop concerning the security of the toy.
Amazon, Walmart and Target have all eliminated the product in situations the place it’s marketed to youngsters from their bodily and digital cabinets. (Merchandise marketed in direction of adults will nonetheless be out there for buy.)
Water beads are super-absorbent spheres that develop to a number of occasions their unique measurement when uncovered to water. They can be utilized to water crops, however they’re additionally marketed as toys and, in some circumstances, studying aids.
Some younger youngsters are swallowing the beads, nevertheless, which causes them to increase inside their our bodies, typically to as a lot as 100 occasions their unique measurement. This will pose extreme well being dangers. The Client Product Security Fee has warned parents to keep them away from small children, noting they’ll “cause severe discomfort, vomiting, dehydration, intestinal blockages and life-threatening injuries, and surgery may be required to remove the water beads”. Emergency departments see 1000’s of water-bead-related visits every year.
Final month, Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.), introduced legislation to ban the merchandise from being marketed to youngsters.
Amazon has updated its policy, saying it would take away listings that discuss with youngsters, embody photos of kids with the product or describe the merchandise as toys, arts and craft objects or “sensory play” objects.
Walmart and Goal have made similar commitments. Walmart mentioned it would prohibit the sale of water beads which are marketed to youngsters beneath 9, whereas Goal mentioned it would halt the sale of the product marketed to youngsters beneath the age of 12.
Some listings and merchandise have already been eliminated; others might be taken off cabinets subsequent week.
The ban comes as one of many season’s hottest toys — “gel blaster” weapons, which shoot water beads — are a well-liked request amongst children.
