Thai authorities have warned against colorful, water-absorbing balls dubbed “baby crystals” for their potential harm to toddlers.
The Consumer Protection Board has come out to warn against the production and sales of hydrogel granules, which can swell in size as they absorb water. The warning came after a mother posted on social media that her toddler almost died from swallowing the beads.
The board issued an order that banned the substance with heavy punishment. Those who produce, sell or import the beads into Thailand will face up to three years in prison and a THB600,000 fine.
Those who see the “dangerous” water beads sold on any platform should notify the Consumer Protect Board via hotline 1166 or website or local police station, according to Thasornatt Thanittipun of the Consumer Protection Board.
On Tuesday, a Thai woman named Kat Kattaleeya wrote on Facebook that her 6-year-old daughter accidentally swallowed some of the water beads and kept vomiting. A CT scan showed the beads swelled inside the girl’s body and caused intestinal blockage. The child needed emergency surgery to remove the beads.
Kat said that she bought the beads to decorate her vases. She did not know how her daughter would swallow them.
Currently, the water beads are easily found as they are available for purchase through popular online shopping sites such as Lazada and Shopee. They are sold as “baby crystals” or “hydrogel balls.”
The tiny jelly beads are made of superabsorbent polymers. When they are placed in water, they can swell up to 200 times their original size. They can be dried out and reused.
The vibrant colors of the beads are to blame for attracting children. Many have reportedly ended up in emergency rooms after the beads expanded in their throats or intestines.
