• The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced the recall of two brands of squishy toys.
  • The toys were recalled because they contain water beads, which are choking hazards and also dangerous if swallowed.
  • Families who have purchased the squishy toys should discontinue use immediately.

I cover toys for a living, and the story of the year has definitely been the rise in popularity of squishies. They’re desperately wanted, and also hard to come by, which can sometimes make for a bad combination. Already there have been reports of counterfeits and scams, warnings of heat injuries and burns, and news of companies rushing in to fill the void with squishy toys that have unsafe materials and are made from dangerous chemicals.

Now, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced the recall of more brands of squishy toys because they contain hazardous water beads, which are possible to choke on and dangerous if they’re swallowed. “If a water bead is ingested,” the CPSC writes, “it can pose ingestion, choking, and intestinal obstruction hazards inside a child’s body, resulting in severe discomfort, vomiting, dehydration and a risk of death to a child.” Here’s what adults of squishy-loving kids need to know.

What are water beads and why are they dangerous?

Water beads are soft, round beads made from super-absorbent polymers that can grow up to 100 times their size when soaked in water. They’re often marketed as a sensory toy because they can be squeezed with fingers, or they can fill a bowl that kids can plunge their hands into, sift, and scoop.

If kids swallow them, however, it could be really dangerous. Dry water beads can start off extremely small, like a grain of salt, which makes them hard to spot. But if a kid puts them in their mouth, they can grow as they absorb water. That means kids can choke on them, and they can cause bowel obstructions that need surgery, the American Academy of Pediatrics reports. The CPSC reports that there have been 7,000 water bead-related ingestion injuries treated in emergency departments in the U.S. from 2018 through 2022.

In addition, the CPSC has found water beads that contain acrylamide, which is a known carcinogen. That’s a violation of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act.

In March 2026, a new federal safety standard for water beads went into effect. It regulates how big the water beads can grow, and also what materials they’re made of. Toys that violate this standard are subject to recalls like the ones we’re seeing this month.

Which toys are affected by the recall and what should families do if they’re affected?

There are currently several squishy brands under recall by the CPSC due to water beads and other hazardous materials. Anyone who has purchased any of these toys should stop using them immediately and follow the company’s instructions for remediation.

  • ABC Trading Squishy Dumpling Toys and Crazy Squib Ball Toys: This is the largest recall, affecting 37,000 products sold at ABC Trading between April and June. It’s two separate toys: one is dumpling-shaped and filled with glitter and water beads, and the other is ball-shaped with water beads. The company is offering a refund, but to get it, buyers have to write the word “RECALLED” in permanent marker on the toys, throw the toy away, and email a photo of the disposed toy to [email protected].
  • LLK Trading Mochi Malrang Mystery Dumpling Toys: These are also shaped like a dumpling and are translucent red in color. They were sold at Easy Wholesale in San Jose, CA, in July 2026. The company is issuing a refund, but to get it consumers are asked to write “RECALLED” on the dumpling itself and the tan bamboo container it comes in, throw them away, and email a photo of the disposed items to [email protected].
  • Toyworld168 Rainbow Mystery Squishy Bun Toys: These are dumpling-shaped as well, only they’re green with water beads inside, and the tan container says “Rainbow Mystery” and “Sugar Edition” on the outside. They were sold nationwide between June 2026 and July 2026. For these as well, to get a refund consumers are asked to write “RECALLED” on the dumpling itself and the tan bamboo container it comes in, throw them away, and email a photo of the disposed items to [email protected].

Honestly, it might be hard to tell these exact squishies from any other dumpling-shaped, bead-filled squishy out there. If there are any water-bead-containing toys in the house, it’s better to be safe and just get rid of them.