Water Balz Recall Issued Due to Risks If Expanding Toys Ingested

Over 95,000 Water Balz, Growing Skulls and other expanding water toys have been recalled due to the risk that small children may suffer serious and potentially life-threatening intestinal obstructions if they swallow the small balls that are designed to grow to 400 times their original size in liquid.

A Dunecraft Water Balz recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on December 17, following reports of an 8-month old girl who swallowed one of the toys and required emergency surgery to remove the growing ball from her intestines.

Water Balz are small marble-sized toys that are intended to absorb water and grow to around the size of a racquet ball. Other similar toys were also part of the recall, including Growing Skulls, Fabulous Flowers and “Despicable Me” themed expanding toy balls. All of the products were imported by Dunecraft.

According to federal safety regulators, the toys pose a serious hazard for small children because the balls may expand inside the body if they are swallowed, causing a potential blockage of the small intestine. This may result in severe pain, vomiting, dehydration, and can be life-threatening if not removed immediately.

In September, a case report was published in the medical journal Pediatrics highlighting the risk of children suffering a Water Balz injury, outlining the case of an 8-month-old girl who ingested one of the super-absorbent polymer balls. The report indicated that the toys are increasing in popularity among small children due to the flashy colors and unique characteristics, which may entice the children to place the toys in their mouth.

The recall consists of 81,000 “Water Balz” model# BC-0338 (round shape), 11,850 “Growing Skulls” model# BC-0320 (skull-shape), 1,800 H2O Orbs “Despicable Me” model# DM-0447 (round shape), and 36 “Fabulous Flowers” with model# BC-0440 (flower-shape). The recalled Water Balz models were sold in packages of 6 in green, yellow, red, blue and black colors with the name “Dunecraft” printed on the packaging with the model number.

The Water Balz products were manufactured in China and United States and imported by Dunecraft Inc., of Cleveland, Ohio. Roughly 95,000 of all models have been recalled in the United States and 600 in Canada.

The products were sold at Bed Bath & Beyond, Five Below, Hobby Lobby, Lakeshore Learning Materials, Microcenter, Urban Outfitters Direct, Wegmans, and other stores nationwide, and online at amazon.com, incrediblescience.com, keyporthobbies.com, americantoystores.com and other websites from September 2010 through November 2012 for about $3 per package.

The H2O Orbs “Despicable Me” models were sold exclusively at Universal Studios stores throughout June 2012 for about $3 per package. The “Fabulous Flowers” models were sold exclusively at Milaeger’s in Racine, Wisconsin from June 2012 through November 2012 for about $3 per package.

The CPSC recommends that consumers immediately take the recalled toys away from children and contact Dunecraft at (800) 306-4168 for a free replacement toy. For further information consumers may also visit www.dunecraft.com.