Authorities warned about water beads: Migros is advertising controversial toys with water beads

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They look like funny, colorful candies and can be life-threatening for children. Like ten-month-old Esther in Wisconsin, USA. The little boy died after swallowing water beads.

Kennedy, who was nine months old at the time, was luckier. Doctors managed to surgically remove the ‘water beads’, also known as ‘water beads’ in English, from his abdomen. The US Consumer Protection Agency (CPSC) announced that it would consider a ban. There is evidence that more than 7,800 children were treated in emergency departments for water beads.

Up to golf ball size

Gel balls, often marketed as children’s toys, can swell up to a hundred times when in contact with liquids (including those on the body of a child who swallows them or inserts them into holes). According to tests conducted by the US consumer magazine Consumer Reports, some of these beads are as small as donut crumbs and reach the size of marbles, while others reach the size of golf balls. After intense pressure from parents and consumer protection organizations, Amazon and other retailers announced this week that they would halt sales.

Although Migros also offers water pearls of the famous Orbeez brand, there has been no such alarm in Switzerland so far. The major distributor is currently trying to boost sales with a special offer valid until Sunday. When asked about safety concerns, Migros said the product complies with legal requirements. The recommended age limit is five years and a note regarding the risk of ingestion is clearly marked on the packaging. Galaxus, on the other hand, announced that it would immediately remove Orbeez and all other craft and toy water beads from its product line upon request. Manor is also promising a “precautionary sales halt.”

Insufficient package information

Orbeez insists he complies with strict safety regulations, but has so far not answered journalists’ questions about safety tests. The CPSC expressly applies the safety warning to all brands and finds package instructions inadequate: Older siblings’ beads are often overlooked during cleaning, and even with supervision, children can easily swallow the beads unnoticed.

The Swiss Toy Association explains that “safety concerns regarding water beads are known” thanks to its own laboratory testing. Importers are advised to test the products themselves if in doubt. The responsible Federal Office for Food Safety leaves open the possibility of its own intervention: “We will inform the cantonal chemists’ association.” The association writes to Blick that it is already aware of the “health problem”. However, no water grains were found during random checks.
In addition to Migros, water beads are sold in many online stores such as baby-markt.ch and mein Toys.ch.

Source :Blick