Withdrawn from market
Compulsory measure
Notified by United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland
Published 7 Apr 2026
SR/01045/26
Expandable beads withdrawn from the market over choking risk
EU authorities ordered the withdrawal of this product (Expandable beads) after it was found to pose a choking risk. Here is how to tell if you have it, and what to do next.
How to identify it
- Product
- Red expandable water beads described as ‘crystal pearls', 100g.
- Brand
- Not listed in the notice
- Barcode
- Batch / lot
- Not listed in the notice
- Made in
- Unknown
- Category
- Decorative articles
Why it's dangerous
Choking
The product expands more than 50% in size when in contact with water. If a child puts the product in their mouth or swallows it, contact with saliva or stomach liquids will cause the product to expand, which can result in occlusion of the respiratory tract or intestinal blockage.
The product does not comply with the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive.
What the authorities did
Measure
Withdrawal of the product from the market
Type
Compulsory
Notified by
United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland
Source
EU Safety Gate notification
SR/01045/26
View official notice ↗
Last synced 3 Oct 2026, 01:15 UTC. SafeCart is an independent company, not an EU body. This page summarises the official notice, which is the authoritative record.