More than 2 million bottles of a popular sour liquid candy are being recalled because part of the packaging can come loose and create a potentially deadly choking hazard.
Federal safety officials announced the recall after discovering a problem with the rollerball used to dispense the candy. Although no injuries have been reported, families are being warned to stop using the recalled products immediately and keep them away from children.
About 2.3 Million Bottles Recalled
The recall involves approximately 2.3 million Ricky Joy Sour Crush Rolling Liquid Candy bottles.
The candy comes in a small plastic bottle with a rollerball top. Consumers roll the ball across their tongue to dispense the sour liquid inside.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the problem is that the rolling ball can detach from the bottle while the product is being used.
If the ball comes loose and enters a person’s mouth, it could become lodged in the throat and cause choking. Federal regulators warned that the defect poses a risk of serious injury or death.
Several Flavors Are Included
The recalled Sour Crush candy was available in four flavors: blue raspberry, strawberry, green apple and watermelon.
The bottles contain 1.85 fluid ounces of sour liquid candy and were sold individually as well as in packages containing three or 12 bottles.
Consumers can identify the affected candy by looking at the packaging. The Ricky Joy logo appears on the front along with the words “EXTREME SOUR” and “SOUR CRUSH.”
The flavor is also listed on the bottle, which features an image of a green monster sticking out its tongue.
Sold Nationwide for More Than Three Years
The recalled candy was available for several years, meaning families may still have bottles stored in cabinets, pantries or children’s candy collections.
The products were sold from January 2023 through May 2026 at H-E-B, Forman Mills and other candy stores across the country.
They were also available online through Walmart, CandyFunHouse.com, RickyJoy.com and other online retailers.
Individual bottles sold for approximately $3. Multipacks were priced between about $13 and $32, depending on the package size.
Because the candy was sold nationwide and online for more than three years, consumers are being encouraged to carefully check any Sour Crush bottles they may still have at home.
No Injuries Reported
So far, no injuries have been reported in connection with the recalled candy.
However, federal regulators are treating the problem seriously because small detachable pieces can present a particularly dangerous choking risk, especially for children.
The recall is intended to get the affected bottles out of homes before someone is hurt.
What Consumers Should Do
Anyone who has one of the recalled Ricky Joy Sour Crush Rolling Liquid Candy bottles should stop using it immediately.
Parents and caregivers should also make sure the bottles are taken away from children and placed somewhere they cannot reach them.
Consumers should then contact The Ricky Joy Company for information about receiving a refund.
The Ricky Joy Company toll-free at 404-975-0352 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or online at https://rickyjoy.com/pages/recall or https://rickyjoy.com/ and click on “Recall Information” at the bottom of the page for more information.
Even if a bottle appears to be working normally and the rollerball has not come loose, consumers should not continue using the recalled candy. The safest option is to follow the recall instructions and remove the product from use.
