Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has urgently advised consumers to stop using Jangostor Large Water Beads sold on Amazon.com due to a significant ingestion hazard that has already led to surgeries for toddlers. These water beads contain acrylamide levels that exceed the safety standards set by the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, creating a chemical toxicity risk.
The warning is based on incidents involving two-year-old children who ingested the beads, which resulted in the beads expanding inside their bodies and causing severe health issues that necessitated surgical removal. Ingestion of these beads can lead to toxicity in children, with symptoms including severe discomfort, vomiting, dehydration, and life-threatening intestinal blockages.
Despite the reported hazards, Jangostor, the product’s China-based manufacturer, has not agreed to a recall meeting CPSC’s safety criteria. The commission has therefore recommended that consumers who purchased these beads between March 2017 and November 2023 dispose of them immediately.
The beads, priced at approximately $10, are sold in two sizes and come in a variety of colors. The CPSC encourages the reporting of any injuries or product defects at www.SaferProducts.gov, and for additional information, individual commissioners’ statements can be accessed at www.cpsc.gov/commissioners.
