Ricky Joy Sour Crush Candy Recall: Product Check and Refund Steps

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If you have a roller-top liquid candy at home, check the bottle before handing it back to a child. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of about 2.3 million Ricky Joy Sour Crush Rolling Liquid Candy bottles because the plastic rolling ball can detach. A loose ball can become a choking hazard capable of causing serious injury or death.

The immediate action is straightforward: stop using the recalled candy, move it completely out of children’s reach, and begin the refund process through the company’s official recall page. Do not pull, twist, or bite the roller to see whether it feels secure. A visual check is not an approved safety test, and manipulating the top could make a loose component easier to dislodge.

What happened

CPSC Recall No. 26748, published September 10, 2026, covers Ricky Joy Sour Crush Rolling Liquid Candy bottles. The candy is dispensed by tilting the bottle and rolling a small ball at the top across the tongue or lips. The safety problem is not the flavor or an ingredient contamination. It is the package design: the rolling ball can separate from the bottle and enter a child’s mouth during normal use.

Because the detached component can block an airway, this is more than a cosmetic packaging defect. CPSC says consumers should stop using the bottles immediately, take them away from children, and contact The Ricky Joy Company for a refund. Trying to glue or tape the roller in place, transferring the liquid to another container, or supervising “one last use” does not follow the recall remedy.

The recall includes about 2.3 million units. According to the CPSC notice, the products were manufactured in Colombia and imported by International Trade Imports LLC, doing business as The Ricky Joy Company, of Cumming, Georgia. They were sold at H-E-B, Forman Mills, other candy stores nationwide, and online through Walmart.com, CandyFunHouse.com, RickyJoy.com, and other retailers.

Sales ran from January 2023 through May 2026. Individual bottles cost about $3, while multipacks sold for approximately $13 to $32. The long sales window matters because a bottle may still be sitting in a pantry, school bag, car console, party-supply bin, or grandparent’s kitchen even if nobody remembers buying it recently.

No injuries were reported in the CPSC announcement. That is encouraging, but it is not a reason to ignore the recall. Product-safety decisions consider both the likelihood of a component failing and the severity of the possible outcome. Choking can become life-threatening within minutes, so prevention depends on removing the product before an incident occurs.

How to identify the recalled bottles

The recalled product is a 1.85-fluid-ounce plastic bottle with a rollerball applicator. CPSC describes four color-and-flavor combinations: blue for blue raspberry, red for strawberry, green for green apple, and pink for watermelon. The front of the bottle displays the Ricky Joy logo, the words “EXTREME SOUR” and “SOUR CRUSH,” the flavor name, and an image of a green monster.

Bottles were sold individually and in packs of three or 12. A multipack carton is not required to identify the recall if the individual bottles remain. The company’s current refund form asks consumers to upload photographs showing the product label and the cap area with the lot number and expiration date. Use good lighting and a phone camera’s zoom rather than taking the cap apart.

Do not assume that every roller candy from every manufacturer is included in this particular notice. Compare the brand, product name, bottle size, flavors, graphics, and sales dates with the official description. Conversely, do not clear a bottle merely because an online order history uses a generic description such as “liquid candy.” The physical label is the better identifier.

Who is affected

Households that bought the product between January 2023 and May 2026 are the primary audience for this recall. The product may also be in places that are easy to overlook: a Halloween-candy bin, birthday-party leftovers, a travel bag, a classroom reward drawer, a day-care snack cabinet, a camp supply box, or inventory at a small retailer.

Families with young children should use extra caution, although choking is not limited to one age group. The way the candy is used places the roller directly at the mouth. If the component separates, there may be little distance or warning before it enters the mouth. An older child may also leave the brightly colored bottle where a younger sibling can find it.

Parents should tell grandparents, babysitters, and other caregivers exactly what product to check. A vague message saying that “some sour candy was recalled” can lead to confusion. Share the product name, a link to the CPSC notice, and the instruction to remove the bottle rather than testing it.

Schools, after-school programs, day-care centers, camps, and youth organizations should check stored treats and prize bins. If a recalled bottle is found, an adult should secure it in a closed container that children cannot access. Verbal instructions alone are not enough when the item still looks like an appealing candy.

Retailers and resellers may also have remaining stock. They should remove affected products from sale, brief employees on identification, and consult their distributor or importer about business inventory. A retailer’s process may differ from the consumer refund workflow, so businesses should not submit customer-style claims without first confirming the appropriate channel.

What to do now

1. Stop use immediately. Take the product from the child and do not test the rollerball.
2. Separate it from ordinary snacks. Place it in a closed bag or plain container in a high or locked location.
3. Search beyond the pantry. Check backpacks, vehicles, travel bags, party supplies, relatives’ homes, and child-care locations.
4. Document the product. Photograph the front label, cap, lot number, expiration date, and all units you have. Save an order record or receipt if available.
5. Use the official refund form. Confirm that the web address is rickyjoy.com before entering information. Avoid third-party “recall claim” ads.
6. Wait for the prepaid label. Follow the company’s instructions for packing all returned units together and shipping them at no cost.
7. Keep a paper trail. Save the confirmation number, shipping date, tracking number, unit count, and final refund record.

The company’s recall page currently asks for photographs of the label and cap showing the lot number and expiration date. It lists a refund of $3 per unit that is neither empty nor expired, and $1.50 per unit that is empty and/or expired. The page says refunds are issued after the returned product is received and verified. These company-administered details can change, so read the live instructions immediately before submitting a claim.

The page also says registered consumers should receive a prepaid shipping label by email within two to three business days and should not return the product to a retail store. Check your spam folder, but verify the sender and make sure the message matches a claim you personally initiated. A legitimate recall refund should not require your online banking password, Social Security number, gift-card payment, or an advance fee.

How to store the product while waiting for a return label

Use a locked cabinet or a high storage location that children cannot reach. A regular snack drawer, refrigerator door, or countertop is not appropriate even if the bottle has been marked for return. Bright colors can make the recalled item more attractive to a child who does not understand the warning.

If a bottle is sticky or leaking, place the whole bottle in a sealed bag or container and wash your hands after handling it. If the roller or cap has already detached, collect the loose part without leaving it on a floor, table, or trash surface where a child or pet could reach it. Keep the loose component with the isolated product unless the company instructs you otherwise.

Tell everyone in the household that the container is under recall. If several bottles were distributed at a party or event, contact recipients and provide precise identification details. A simple location-by-location checklist can prevent one forgotten bottle from remaining in circulation.

If the rollerball is already missing

If the child is breathing normally and the component is clearly accounted for, remove both the bottle and loose part and secure them. If the ball is missing and may have been swallowed or inhaled, or if the child has persistent coughing, trouble breathing, drooling, difficulty swallowing, or throat or chest discomfort, seek guidance from a medical professional or 911. Do not rely on symptoms briefly improving.

If a child cannot speak, cough effectively, or breathe, call 911 immediately and begin age-appropriate choking first aid. Procedures differ for infants and older children, so training from an organization such as the American Red Cross is valuable before an emergency occurs. Do not perform a blind finger sweep for an object you cannot see, because that can push it deeper.

How to verify the recall officially

Use the CPSC notice as the primary source. Confirm Recall No. 26748, the September 10, 2026 publication date, the exact product name, flavors, bottle size, sales period, and remedy. Check that the address ends in cpsc.gov. Search ads and social posts may point to incomplete or fraudulent claim pages.

Start a refund only from the manufacturer’s official page at rickyjoy.com/pages/recall. CPSC also lists The Ricky Joy Company’s toll-free contact number as 404-975-0352, available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time. Use that verified number if the form fails or if your product identification is uncertain.

An online purchase history can help establish when and where you bought the candy, but a removed listing does not cancel a recall. Likewise, a marketplace seller’s statement that an item is not affected should not override matching official identification details. Ask CPSC or the company directly when information conflicts.

If you experienced an incident or near miss involving this product that is not reflected in the notice, consumers can report product-safety events through SaferProducts.gov. Emergency care always comes first. For a later report, preserve objective details such as photos, purchase source, date, lot information, expiration date, and what happened.

Refund record checklist

• Flavor, color, and total number of recalled bottles
• Photos of the front label, cap, lot number, and expiration date
• Receipt or online order record, if available
• Date the recall form was submitted and confirmation number
• Date the prepaid label arrived
• Carrier tracking number and the number of units shipped
• Expected refund amount and the date it was received

For multiple units, photograph the contents of the package before sealing it and write down the count. The company says all units being returned should be packed in the same box or package. Keep the carrier receipt until the refund is complete. If tracking shows delivery but the refund remains outstanding, contact the company using the official number with your confirmation and tracking numbers ready.

Frequently asked questions

Are all liquid roller candies recalled?

No. This CPSC notice covers Ricky Joy Sour Crush Rolling Liquid Candy in 1.85-fluid-ounce bottles. Compare the brand, product name, four flavor colors, front graphics, and sales dates. Use the CPSC recall search to check whether a different brand has a separate notice.

Can we keep using a bottle if the ball still feels tight?

No. CPSC directs consumers to stop using recalled bottles immediately. A roller that appears secure now is not proof that it will remain attached. Do not pull or twist it as a home test.

Can I request a refund without the multipack box or receipt?

The company’s current form focuses on product photographs, quantity, label information, lot number, and expiration date. If you still have the bottle but not the receipt or outer carton, submit the official form or call the verified company number rather than assuming you are ineligible.

Does an empty bottle still matter?

Yes. The detachable roller remains a potential small part even after the candy is gone, and a child may treat the colorful bottle like a toy. The company page currently lists a separate refund amount for empty or expired units. Check the current instructions before disposal.

Should I take the product back to the store?

The manufacturer’s recall page currently says not to return the product to a retailer. Register through the official form, wait for the prepaid shipping label, and follow the company’s packing instructions.

Are bottles purchased online included?

They can be. CPSC specifically identifies Walmart.com, CandyFunHouse.com, RickyJoy.com, and other online retailers. Match the physical product and the January 2023 through May 2026 sales period rather than relying on the seller name alone.

Why act urgently if no injuries were reported?

The possible consequence—an obstructed airway—is severe and can develop rapidly. A zero-injury count in the announcement means prevention may still be working; it does not make the defect acceptable or the product safe to use.

Does a child need medical care after using the candy?

Simply having used the candy does not by itself establish an injury. If the roller is intact and the child has no symptoms, secure the product and follow the recall. If the ball is missing, ingestion or inhalation is possible, or the child develops coughing, breathing, or swallowing problems, seek professional guidance promptly.

How can I avoid recall-refund scams?

Open the CPSC notice first and use the company link and phone number listed there. Type the official address directly. Do not provide passwords, a Social Security number, gift cards, or upfront payment to someone who contacted you unexpectedly about a refund.

What if I gave bottles to other families?

Send each recipient the exact product name, a photo or description, the stop-use instruction, and the CPSC link. Ask them to confirm that they checked party bags, backpacks, and snack storage rather than relying on memory.

Official sources

• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Ricky Joy Sour Crush Rolling Liquid Candy Recall No. 26748
• The Ricky Joy Company: Sour Crush recall registration and refund instructions
• American Red Cross: choking first-aid guidance

This article reflects the CPSC and company instructions available on September 16, 2026. Refund details and contact procedures can change; review the live official pages before submitting a claim.