Eco-Novelty Recalls Jumbo Size and Jumbo Multipurpose Cosmo Beads Toys Due to Serious Ingestion Hazard

Name of product:

Water-absorbing polymer beads

Hazard:

The hard and colorful toy can be easily mistaken for candy by a child. When the bead is ingested, it expands and can cause intestinal obstructions inside a child's body, resulting in severe discomfort, vomiting, dehydration and could be life threatening. The toys need surgery to be removed from the body. Similar toys have not shown up on x-rays.

Remedy:

Refund

Recall date:

September 10, 2013

Units:

About 3,500

Consumer Contact:

Eco Novelty Corp. at (231) 222-4200 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or e-mail admin@econoveltycorp.com.

Recall Details

Description:

Cosmo Beads Jumbo Size Colorful Water Balls and Jumbo Multipurpose Colorful Water Balls toys are being recalled. The toys are water absorbing beads that when placed in water will hydrate up to the size of a racquetball. On the front of the toy packages it states Cosmo Beads ™ Colorful Water Balls, Just Add Water, Biodegradable, Non-toxic and Colorfast. The packages have yellow and black color on the upper left corner and red in the lower right corner. The beads can be seen through an oval, cellophane window near the bottom of the package.

Cosmo Beads Jumbo Size were sold as single packets of beads in various colors: clear, green, purple, red and mixed colors. Each packet contains a variety of bead sizes. The front of the Jumbo Size package has a picture of a hand holding two water balls and the words "Grows up to 600X (1.5") Size."

Cosmo Beads Jumbo Multipurpose came in three packets per set. Each packet contains beads in one size and comes in clear, dark purple and orange colors. The front of the Jumbo Multipurpose packet has a picture of flowers in a glass vase and the words "Deco Centerpiece: Toys-Games: Plant-Vacation watering."

Remedy:

Consumers should immediately take this recalled toy away from children and contact Eco-Novelty for a refund.

Incidents/Injuries:

None reported. CPSC is aware of one incident where an 8-month-old girl ingested a similar water-absorbing polymer ball that had to be surgically removed.

Sold At:

Amazon.com, ifleemarket.com and crystalsoilusa.com from June 2011 through August 2013 for between $2 and $20.

Importer:

Eco-Novelty Corp., of Troy, Mich.

Manufactured In:

China

Recall number:

13-278

Report an Incident Involving this Product

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to help ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals -– contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

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