2.3 Million Ricky Joy Liquid Candy Bottles Recalled Over Choking Risk

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced the recall of approximately 2.3 million Ricky Joy Sour Crush Rolling Liquid Candy Bottles, the latest federal action involving rollerball-style sweets that can pose severe choking hazards to children.

The recalled candy was sold in 1.85-fluid-ounce bottles. Each package carries the “Ricky Joy” brand logo, the phrases “EXTREME SOUR” and “SOUR CRUSH,” and a cartoon green monster sticking out its tongue. The candy came in strawberry, blue raspberry, green apple, and watermelon flavors.

The bottles use a plastic ball mechanism that releases liquid candy when it is rolled across the tongue. That ball can dislodge during use and slide into a child’s throat, creating a critical risk of airway obstruction, serious injury, or death.

Consumers could buy the bottles individually for approximately $3. Multi-packs of three or 12 sold for between $13 and $32. The products reached stores and online storefronts over a multi-year period from January 2023 through May 2026.

Physical retailers included the supermarket chain H-E-B, the discount retailer Forman Mills, and various independent candy shops nationwide. Online listings appeared on Walmart, CandyFunHouse.com, and the manufacturer’s official website, RickyJoy.com.

The federal intervention follows continuing safety concerns about rolling liquid candy dispensers designed with a free-spinning plastic sphere. Safety advocates and federal officials have scrutinized the mechanism after other high-profile incidents involving similar products.

In October 2023, the CPSC oversaw a recall of more than 70 million Slime Licker Sour Rolling Liquid Candy units manufactured by Candy Dynamics. The agency had received reports that the rolling ball could detach, including a choking death involving a seven-year-old child in New York and a separate case in which a child required emergency surgery to remove a dislodged ball from the throat.

Other distributors of rollerball candies faced comparable recalls in early 2024 as regulators addressed the hazardous mechanism across the market. No injuries or choking incidents have been reported to date for the Ricky Joy Sour Crush product line, but the CPSC warned that mechanical failure remains a severe hazard.

Parents and caregivers are being advised to locate any recalled Ricky Joy candy bottles immediately, take them away from children, and prevent further consumption. The Ricky Joy Company is offering full refunds to affected purchasers. Consumers seeking a refund or additional information can contact the company directly to resolve the issue.