Cosmo Bead and Growing Spider Recall Issued for Water-Absorbing Balls

Two companies have recalled roughly 30,000 water absorbing polymer beads due to the potential risk the expanding toys may pose for small children if they are swallowed.  

A Cosmo Beads recall and a Monster Science Growing Spider recall were announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on September 10.

The actions were taken as part of a continuing effort by the CPSC to remove similar water-absorbing products from the market following severe injuries suffered by children where surgical removal of similar products were required after they expanded inside the body.

The water balls are marketed as toys for children, and the size and colors may cause infants and toddlers to place them in their mouth, posing a risk that they may be accidentally swallowed. If the water balls are swallowed, they can expand inside the body and cause bowel obstruction, vomiting, and other life threatening injuries. The water balls may not show up on x-rays or during other exams, and often surgery is required to remove the growing ball from the body after it is swallowed.

A study in the medical Journal Pediatrics determined last year that these water absorbing polymer balls are hazardous to young children and a growing problem. Each year hundreds of children are taken to the emergency room after swallowing the small colorful objects.

In December, a similar recall for expanding balls was issued for almost 100,000 products marketed by a different company under the brand name “Water Balz.” The Water balz recall was issued following a report that an 8-month old swallowed one and had to have it surgically removed. These products were designed in the shape of skulls, flowers, and Despicable Me characters.

Cosmo Beads

The Cosmo Beads recall consists of 3,500 Jumbo Size colorful water balls and Jumbo Multipurpose Colorful water balls toys that when placed in water will grow up to the size of a racquet ball. The Cosmo Beads jumbo size were sold in a variety of colors in a packaging displaying a hand holding two water balls with the words “Grow up to 600(1.5) Size” printed on the front.

The Cosmo Beads Jumbo Multipurpose water balls were sold in packages of three in clear, purple, and orange colors. The packaging has a picture of flowers in a glass vase with the words “Deco Centerpiece: Toys-Games:Plant-Vacation watering” printed on the front.

The recalled Cosmo Beads were manufactured in China for Eco-Novelty Corp of Troy, Michigan were they were sold at Amazon.com. ifleetmarket.com and crystalsoilusa.com from June 2011 through August 2013 for between $2 and $20.

The CPSC recommends that consumers with recalled Cosmo Beads take them away from children immediately and contact Eco Novelty Corp. at 231-222-4200 to receive a full refund.

Monster Science Growing Spider

Roughly 26,500 Be Amazing! Monster Science Growing Spider toy sets with model number 7280 and 7289 sold at Cracker Barrel and Target stores are included in the recall. The toys are marble-size polymer balls marketed as “spider eggs” that grow up to 800 times their original size. The toys packaging has the “Be Amazing! Toys” star logo on the front along with “Ages 8+, Just Drop in Water, Grow Giant Spider Eggs and Eggs Grow Up to 8X Original Size” printed on the front of the packaging.

The toys were manufactured in China under Be Amazing! Toys of Salt Lake City where they were distributed for sale to Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores nationwide from August 2011 through August 2013, Spirit Halloween stores from August 2011 through November 2011, and Target stores nationwide from September 2012 through November 2012 for between $3 and $5.

The CPSC recommends that consumers with recalled Monster Science growing spider polymer balls immediately take them away from children and contact Be Amazing! Toys at 877-798-9795 for a refund.

This is the second recall for Be Amazing! expanding toys in less than two months. A Be Amazing! Colossal Water Ball recall was issued on July 31.