Halloween Season Marred by Multiple Product Recalls

In the weeks leading up to Halloween, a series of consumer-product safety actions have been announced. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a choking-hazard recall on September 10 for Ricky Joy Sour Crush liquid-candy bottles after the roller-ball tops were found to detach. The CPSC also announced on September 24 a recall of more than 43,600 light-up toys sold by ABC Trading because button-cell batteries are easily accessed by children. A separate recall announced on October 22 involves 94 CIYTI light-up princess costumes with similar battery risks. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified several food recalls as Class II, indicating that exposure could cause temporary or medically reversible health effects. These include a lead-contamination recall of 1,836 cases of Walmart’s Great Value Fruit Cocktail (initiated October 1, 2026) and a glass-contamination recall of 4,703 pieces of Gearharts Fine Chocolates. Additional food recalls involve undeclared milk in Chocolatey Eyeballs sold at TJ Maxx and Marshalls, and a broader chocolate recall initiated on September 22 affecting 4-ounce and 8-ounce products with best-by dates through October 21, 2026.

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• Choking risk: detachable candy bottle tops (Ricky Joy).

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• Button-cell battery ingestion: light-up costumes, toys, and pumpkin-carving kits.

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• Metal contamination: elevated lead levels in canned fruit cocktail.

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• Glass fragments: found in fine chocolates.

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• Undeclared allergens: milk present in Chocolatey Eyeballs, posing severe allergic reactions.

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Recalls span dozens of states. The Great Value Fruit Cocktail cans were shipped to Walmart stores in Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wyoming. The chocolate recall covered 17 states, while the Chocolatey Eyeballs recall reached 13 states, including California, Texas, and New York. ABC Trading’s light-up toys were sold nationwide through specialty stores and online. Besslly pumpkin-carving kits, recalled in April, were sold on Amazon from March 2024 through December 2025.

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Both the CPSC and FDA designated the battery-related and lead-related recalls as Class II, meaning the products could cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences, though serious outcomes are considered remote. No injuries have been reported for any of the recalled items.

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Authorities advise parents to stop using the recalled items immediately, keep them away from children, and contact the manufacturers or retailers for refunds. For food products, consumers should discard the items rather than attempt to return them. The CPSC and FDA continue to monitor holiday-season merchandise for additional safety concerns.

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