On 2013-07-31, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published
a recall regarding Monster Science and Superstar Science Colossal Water Balls / Water-Absorbing Polymer Balls due to a potential internal injury hazard.
This product sold new beginning in September 2010 for about $3.
About
10,000 units are involved in this Be Amazing! Toys ball recall.
Learn more and find out what to do if you own this product below.
This was the 1st recall of products in the Other Miscellaneous Toys category in 2013.
Since 2005, there have been approximately 20 similar recalls,
involving about 2 million product units.
problem
The soft and colorful product can be easily
mistaken by a child for candy. When the marble-sized toy is ingested, it
can expand inside a child's body and cause intestinal obstructions,
resulting in severe discomfort, vomiting, dehydration and could be life
threatening. The toys do not show up on an x-ray and require surgery to
be removed from the body.
How can I tell if I own this product?
This recall involves marble-sized toys that absorb water and grow
up to 400 times their original size. They were sold as Monster Science
Colossal Water Balls (model #7255) and Super Star Science! Colossal
Water Balls (model #7704). Monster Science packages contain eight balls
and "Growth Powder." Super Star Science! packages contain five balls.
The balls were sold in an assortment of blue, green, orange, purple,
red, yellow or clear colors. The "Be Amazing! Toys" star logo, "Ages
8+", the name of the toy, "Colossal Water Balls" and a warning not to
use without adult supervision are on the front of each product's
packaging. Model numbers are printed on the back of the packaging.
Note: This product was also recalled in Canada. Once available, Health
Canada's recall notice can be found here:
https://rsam.healthycanadians.gc.ca/manage_awr/edit_awr/34791/en
These items were sold new+ at
Specialty retailers and education centers nationwide and online at
Amazon.com, BeAmazingToys.com and WorldMarket.com from September 2010
through November 2012 for about $3 per package.