The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) published a product safety report on 26 October 2026 for 20,000pcs Runfeng Water Beads, a decorative product sold on Amazon, after finding it presents a serious risk of asphyxiation to young children1. The listing has been removed by the online marketplace1.
The report states that the product presents a serious risk of asphyxiation because, if it is swallowed in its hydrated form, it can block a young child's airway1. OPSS also says improvements are required to the product labelling, and that the product does not meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 20051. The alert is classed at serious risk level, in the decorative articles category, with removal of the listing by the online marketplace as the corrective action1.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Product | 20,000pcs Runfeng Water Beads |
| Brand | Runfeng |
| Amazon listing name | 20000 Pièces Water Beads Colorful, Biodegradable Balls |
| Amazon ASIN | B0CPSK6QZ9 |
| Barcode | X00230H8WL |
| Country of origin | Unknown |
| Product description | Colourful water beads in clear packaging |
| Notification number | 2607-0041 |
| Notified by | Office for Product Safety and Standards |
| Published | 26 October 2026 |
The report describes the product as colourful water beads in clear packaging, listed under decorative articles, homeware and gardenware as ornament accessories1. The country of origin is recorded as unknown1. OPSS refers readers to a separate Product Safety Alert for water beads, published at gov.uk1.
"Consumers should stop using the product immediately and keep it out of reach of children. Contact the retailer/supplier for a replacement or refund."
Why it matters for households
The product is a decorative item that may be kept in homes where young children are present, and the hazard identified by OPSS applies when the beads are swallowed after absorbing water and swelling. OPSS advises consumers to stop using the product immediately and keep it out of reach of children, and to contact the retailer or supplier for a replacement or refund1. The Amazon listing has been removed, so the product is no longer offered through that marketplace1. Households that already hold the product are affected from the date of the report, 26 October 20261. The report does not state how many units were sold in the UK, and no recall of units already in homes has been reported1.
What happens next
The report records the removal of the listing by Amazon as the corrective action taken1. OPSS states that improvements are also required to the product labelling, but the report does not set out a timetable for this1. No further steps for households beyond contacting the retailer or supplier for a replacement or refund have been reported1. Readers can follow product safety alerts through the staying informed hub.
