'Water beads' toy sold at Target recalled after infant death

Chuckle & Roar Ultimate Water Beads Activity Kits sold at Target were recalled Thursday after an infant who ingested the product died.

If the colorful water beads are ingested, they can expand and pose ingestion, choking and intestinal obstruction hazards inside a child’s body, resulting in severe discomfort, vomiting, dehydration and a risk of death to a child, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The CPSC reports a 10-month-old in Wisconsin died in July after swallowing the recalled water beads. Another baby, a 9-month-old, was seriously injured in November in Maine after the swallowed water beads caused an internal obstruction, requiring surgery to remove them.

About 52,000 were sold for $15 at Target stores and online at Target.com between March 2022 and November 2022.

The Chuckle & Roar Ultimate Water Beads Activity Kit includes 2 ounces of “jumbo” water beads and 6 ounces of “regular” water beads. Along with a clear container and lid, there are five small toy fish, a scissor scoop, tweezers, a scoop with a handle, 10 activity cards and instructions. The activity kit was sold in a purple box with UPC Number 079346627035 on the back.

Consumers should immediately stop using and take the recalled Chuckle & Roar Ultimate Water Beads Activity Kits away from children. Contact Buffalo Games for a full refund and instructions on how to return the product in a prepaid mailing package supplied by the firm or return the product to any Target store.

A Target spokesperson added, "We extend our deepest sympathies to the families affected by these tragic incidents. We no longer sell this product, removing it from stores and online in November of 2022. Guests who purchased this product should immediately return it and contact Target for a full refund.”

William Wallace, associate director of safety policy for Consumer Reports, questioned the timing of the recall in a release.

“This recall and its timeline raise many questions. Why didn’t Buffalo Games recall these kits earlier, after it learned of serious injuries and before a baby died? Why is the company recalling just this kit and not also other similar water bead products? Why didn’t Target do more to reach its customers directly and warn them? The CPSC must get to the bottom of the failures that led to this preventable tragedy, and if it finds that anyone broke the law, it should issue stern penalties to deter future wrongdoing.”

The CPSC's website has more information on safety tips for water beads and what to do if you encounter an emergency.

Contact for Buffalo Games: Toll-free at 800-637-0732 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email at beadrecall@buffalogames.com, or online at https://chuckleandroar.com/recall or www.chuckleandroar.com and click on “Recall Information” at the top of the landing page.