Water beads ban overview:
- Who: Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., is calling for a full ban of children’s toy water beads along with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- Why: Swallowing water beads led to 7,800 emergency room visits between 2016 and 2022 along with the deaths of children, Pallone said.
- Where: Pallone held a news conference on the water beads bill in Neptune, New Jersey.
Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., is calling for a full ban of children’s toy water beads because they have led to injuries and the death of children who swallowed the toys.
The water beads bill was introduced along with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and parents who have children who either were injured or died due to swallowing water beads.
More than 7,800 emergency room visits between 2016 and 2022 happened due to water beads injuries along with the deaths of children.
The recent death of a 10-month-old in Wisconsin who swallowed water beads led Buffalo Games to issue a recall for 52,000 of its Chuckle and Roar Ultimate Water Beads Activity Kits sold at Target.
“Water beads come in all sorts of bright rainbow colors, tend to look like candy, and are often labeled as non-toxic,” Pallone said. “They look and sound fun, but the reality is these colorful products can become deadly or cause serious injuries when swallowed by children. That’s why I’m introducing legislation to ban water beads marketed for kids nationwide.”
Parents whose children had water bead injuries and death are advocates for water beads ban
Ashley Haugen created a non-profit called The Water Bead Lady to educate on water beads injuries after her daughter, Kipley Haugen, ingested water beads and was injured in 2017.
She joined Pallone at the water beads ban introduction along with a parent who had a child die after they ingested water beads and another parent whose child was injured in the same way.
“Our sweet Esther Jo is gone all because of a toy; a toy she was never allowed to play with,” parent Taylor Bethard said. “Water beads are not worth the risk. If you are a parent, caregiver, teacher or therapist, I urge you to remove these from your spaces immediately. Our family is thankful that the Ban Water Beads Act will help ensure that no other family endures the same tragedy we have.”
Do you believe that water beads are dangerous and should be banned? Let us know in the comments.
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2 thoughts onCongressman to introduce bill banning water beads following injuries
Add me this is Absurd
Aren’t most toys potentially dangerous. Do we just recall and sue all toymakers. Unfortunately accidents do occur, but as parents we should realize this and be a little more observant. I remember when my daughter choked on a polly pocket toy shoe when she was 2. However, I shouldn’t of had the toys in her reach if I wasn’t around at the time. I do not blame the toy companies. There are warnings on the packages and people need to take responsibility instead of looking for someone else to blame. However, my heart does go out for the children whom passed form such accidents.