Major Retailers Cease Sales of Toxic Water Beads After Child Deaths and Plumbing Issues
Walmart, Target, and Amazon have announced that they will no longer sell Orbeez, a popular brand of water beads, due to safety concerns. The sensory toy has been linked to incidents where children have suffered injury or death from swallowing the small balls or placing them in their ears or nose. Additionally, the polymer spheres can expand significantly when exposed to water, causing plumbing issues. The retailers have taken steps to remove the product from their stores and online platforms.