EU Safety Gate · Report-2010-46
Gemme di Rugiada · Hygroscopic balls for watering plants - Pearl Shape Crystal Soil
The products pose a risk of choking and injuries because they are identical in appearance to sugar balls used to decorate cakes, and because they expand rapidly upon contact with water, they may, if accidentally ingested, obstruct the intestine, or, if they enter the airway, impede or completely prevent the passage of air, resulting in respiratory distress and/or asphyxia. The assessment of the article carried out by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (note 24277 dated 01.06.2010) showed that after only 30 minutes, the balls had increased in volume by over 300%. The products do not comply with the Directive 87/357/EEC on products which, appearing to be other than they are, endanger the health or safety of consumers.
- Published
- 19 November 2010
- Notifying authority
- Italy
- Catalog checked
- 30 July 2026
Check the authority measure and original alert.
Type of economic operator to whom the measure(s) were ordered: Other. Category of measure(s): Seizure of the products, withdrawal from the market and recall from consumers ordered by the authorities.. Date of entry into force: Unknown
Official source alertProduct identification
- Safety Gate reference
- 1716/10
- Model
- Unknown
Classification
- Category
- Other - Food-imitating products
- Risk type
- Choking, Injuries
- Country of origin
- People's Republic of China
Product description
Transparent 8 g package containing hygroscopic balls. Each package contains balls of a single colour. Colours available are: white, transparent, yellow, orange, light green, blue, red, purple, pink. They are available in small, medium and large sizes. Original diameter: small - 1.25 mm; medium - 1.7 to 2.0 mm; large - 2 to 2.5 mm. The product’s specification sheet states that the balls can increase their original weight by 120 to 150 times.