Four products sold on Amazon have been ordered to be removed from the platform after the government’s safety watchdog identified serious risks of choking, fire and electrocution. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) instructed the retail giant to delist the items following notifications from Local Authority Trading Standards about the dangers they pose to consumers.
Among the withdrawn products are decorative water beads that can suffocate young children, two electrical charging devices carrying fire and explosion hazards, and a cordless pressure washer that presents a significant electrocution risk. Three of the four items originated in China; the country of manufacture for the fourth is unknown.
Chimoo Water Beads – choking and suffocation hazard
The Chimoo Water Beads, sold in packs of 50,000 pieces, pose a substantial suffocation hazard for young children. The beads are made from superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) capable of expanding up to 400 times their original size when exposed to liquid. If swallowed, particularly after hydration, they can completely obstruct a child’s airway or gastrointestinal passage, potentially requiring surgery to remove the blockage.
The OPSS has issued a specific warning that water beads should be kept away from children under the age of five, and even with older children, close adult supervision is essential. Detection of the beads once ingested is notoriously difficult: they do not show up on X-rays, making diagnosis challenging. There have been overseas reports linking water beads to child fatalities, underscoring the severity of the risk.
These items are also marketed under names such as jelly balls, water balls, sensory beads, water crystals, orbeez, hydro orbs and superabsorbent polymers. The Chimoo Water Beads have been found not to meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. The OPSS has published a broader Product Safety Alert concerning water beads, highlighting the wider dangers these items present to children across the country.
Consumers who purchased the product are advised to cease using it immediately, ensure it remains inaccessible to children, and contact the distributor to seek redress. Amazon has removed the listing.
HUSGW Battery Charger – fire risk
The HUSGW Battery Charger, a black and red device manufactured in China, carries a significant fire risk due to inadequate insulation between its input and output circuits. If the insulation fails during operation, the unit could overheat and ignite. The product does not comply with the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016. Border officials rejected the import, and Amazon subsequently removed the listing.
GVKRLXZ AC Adapter – fire and explosion risk
The GVKRLXZ AC Adapter, a laptop-style charger of Chinese origin, presents a serious fire and explosion hazard stemming from an incorrectly rated fuse that may fail to prevent overheating. In the event of a fault, consumers may also be at risk of burns. The mains plug does not meet British Standard BS 1363, and the product lacks required markings and warnings. It fails to comply with the Plugs & Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 and the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016. Authorities intercepted and destroyed the product at the border, and Amazon has removed the listing.
Cordless Pressure Washer – electrocution risk
The fourth product withdrawn is a cordless pressure washer manufactured by Yongkang Champagne Industry and Trade Co. Ltd. This black and red device, which includes a rechargeable battery and a wall plug for charging, poses a serious electrocution risk because its insulation may deteriorate during normal use. If the protective barrier fails while the washer is operational, metal components of the casing could become electrically live, delivering a shock to anyone touching them. Investigators found the transformer to be poorly constructed, failing to meet minimum safety requirements for creepage and clearance distances. The product breaches the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008. Border authorities rejected the import, and Amazon has removed the listing from its platform.