Reps. Kelly, Pallone, Pettersen Introduce Legislation Banning Water Beads Products Marketed for Kids

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) and Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), with Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), introduced legislation banning water bead products marketed for kids ahead of the holiday shopping season.

Water beads are often marketed as ‘non-toxic’ and appear harmless but can cause life-threatening injuries to children when swallowed. While this legislation is pending in the House, the Representatives urge parents to avoid these toys during their holiday shopping.

“Parents should not have to shoulder the burden of determining which toys they see on the shelves are safe for their children to play with. Ahead of the holiday season, I am joining Ranking Member Pallone and Rep. Pettersen to ban harmful water beads because parents and children deserve to have a happy holiday season without worrying that a toy could cause life-threatening harm,” said Congresswoman Robin Kelly, Chair of the CBC Health Braintrust.

“As the holiday shopping season begins, it is important that parents and all shoppers be warned about the danger water beads pose to children.  Water beads, which are often sold as toys, crafts, or sensory tools, come in all sorts of bright colors and themes to attract children’s attention. While they may seem harmless—and are often labeled ‘non-toxic’—water beads can cause devastating and life-threatening injuries to children. The small polymer beads absorb fluid and can swell to 100 times their original size when swallowed. Unfortunately, these products aren’t hard to get and are easily purchased online and from big box stores who are marketing them to children despite thousands of emergency room visits caused by water beads in recent years. I’ve now introduced legislation in Congress to ban water beads, but I urge all holiday shoppers to leave water beads off their shopping lists while we work to remove these products from store shelves,” said Ranking Member Pallone.

Legislative text of the Ban Water Beads Act is available HERE.  

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