Health Canada has issued a broad public advisory for water beads, also known as jelly beads, hydro orbs, crystal soil, sensory beads or orb beads, due to their potential for life-threatening injuries to children.
"Water beads can be very harmful if swallowed or put in the ears or nose. If ingested, water beads can continue to grow inside the body leading to potentially life-threatening injuries, such as intestinal or bowel obstruction," warns the federal agency.
Symptoms of ingesting a water bead include abdominal or chest pain, abdominal swelling or soreness, and constipation, along with other issues.
The beads can be found in a variety of products they note, meaning parents and caregivers need to be aware of what they are, where they may show up, and the harm they can cause.
Part of the issue, the advisory notes, is the fact that often (though not always) the beads are brightly coloured and could be mistaken for candy by young children or adults with cognitive impairment.
There have been several reported cases where the beads have caused injury to children, adds Health Canada. This includes cases where the beads rolled away from their original location or product and were missed when the area was cleaned. Later, in multiple instances, children found the beads that hadn't been cleaned.
In other incidents, the children found them after an older sibling bought something that included water beads, or found them at school or childcare facilities.
"It is recommended that caregivers of children under five avoid having water beads in their household or classroom, even if intended for an older child or adult use," suggest the advisory.
In Canada, over almost 12 years there have been only six reported cases involving water beads, with four injuries, one of which was severe. However, in the USA, there were at least 248 reports in less than five years between January 2017 and November 2022. It's estimated water bead incidents in the USA led to around 4,500 emergency room visits over a four-year period.
Health Canada is looking to collect more information about incidents in Canada.
Anyone who is concerned about a child or other person who has ingested a water bead is advised to call the Canadian Poison Centre at 1-844-POISON-X. The hotline will advise parents or guardians.
