Most Heinous Chinese Toy Recall of All

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This undated handout photo provided by the Consumer Product Safety Commission

(CPSC) shows Aqua Dots, a Chinese-made toy recalled Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007,

by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

(AP Photo/Aqua Dots, Consumer Product Safety Commission)

 

Most Heinous Chinese Toy Recall of All

 

Millions of Chinese-made Aqua Dots toys have been yanked from store

shelves--and hopefully out of toy boxes at home--after scientists determined

they

contain a chemical that once ingested in the human body converts into a powerful

" date rate " drug called gamma hydroxy butyrate. It can induce unconsciousness,

seizures, drowsiness, coma and even death. The Associated Press reports that

two children in the United States and three in Australia were hospitalized after

swallowing the beads, which are distributed by the Toronto-based Spin Master

Toys. (They are called Bindeez in Australia, where they were actually

recognized as the toy of year.) The toy beads are made for use in arts and

crafts

projects. They are arranged in designs and when sprayed with water, they fuse

together. But it's the chemical coating on the beads that metabolizes into the

so-called date rape drug gamma hydroxy butyrate when ingested.

 

Two American children who swallowed Aqua Dot beads went into non-responsive

comas, Consumer Product Safety Commission spokesman Scott Wolfson said. In

Australia, three children ages 19 months, 2 years and 10 years were hospitalized

after swallowing the beads.