Thread: MILLIONS OF TOYS RECALLED: CONTAIN DATE RAPE DRUG

Millions of toys recalled; contain 'date rape' drug
Two U.S. children went into comas after who swallowing Chinese-made Aqua Dots found to contain a chemical that converts into 'date rape' drug when ingested.

November 7 2007: 9:04 PM EST


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Millions of Chinese-made toys have been pulled from shelves in North America and Australia after scientists found they contain a chemical that converts into a powerful date rape drug when ingested. Two children in the U.S. and three in Australia were hospitalized after swallowing the beads.

With only seven weeks until Christmas, the recall is yet another blow to the toy industry -- already bruised by a slew of recalls this past summer.


In the United States, the toy goes by the name Aqua Dots, a highly popular holiday toy distributed by Toronto-based Spin Master Toys. They are called Bindeez in Australia, where they were named toy of the year at an industry function earlier this year.

It could not immediately be learned whether Aqua Dots beads are made in the same factories as the Bindeez product. Both are sold by Australia-based Moose Enterprises.

The toy beads are sold in general merchandise stores and over the Internet for use in arts and crafts projects. They can be arranged into designs and fused together when sprayed with water.

Scientists say a chemical coating on the beads, when ingested, metabolizes into the so-called date rape drug gamma hydroxy butyrate. When eaten, the compound -- made from common and easily available ingredients -- can induce unconsciousness, seizures, drowsiness, coma and death.

Naren Gunja from Australia's Poisons Information Center said the drug's effect on children was "quite serious ... and potentially life-threatening."

The recall was announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission on Wednesday several hours after published reports about the recall in Australia.

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The two U.S. children who swallowed Aqua Dot beads went into nonresponsive comas, commission spokesman Scott Wolfson said Wednesday afternoon.

In Australia, the toys were ordered off store shelves on Tuesday when officials learned that a 2-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl were hospitalized after swallowing the beads. A 19-month-old toddler also was being treated.

The news jolted the toy industry because Aqua Dots has been one of the few bright stars of the toy selling season, which, along with overall retailing, has gotten off to a sluggish start. The item, which had been heavily advertised, had appeared on many toy experts' list of must-have holiday toys, and toy sellers are now in the midst of canceling advertising and scrambling to figure out how to replace it.

Chris Byrne, a New York-based toy consultant, noted that the incidents could have been isolated, and Spin Master may be erring on the side of caution.

"This is something that they could not have foreseen. This is an extremely hot toy. ... It's a little scary," Byrne said.

In a statement, Toys "R" Us Inc., said that it issued on Tuesday a "stop sale" on the entire Spin Master Aqua Dots product line in its North American stores and on its Web site after it learned of the news. "We understand that Spin Master and U.S. regulatory authorities are investigating this product and we have asked Spin Master to fully explain what it believes happened," said the toy seller in a statement.

Meanwhile, a separate recall was announced for 405,000 children's products made in China, most of them toy cars, because of dangerous levels of lead.

The recall includes about 380,000 Pull-Back Action Toy Cars imported by Dollar General Merchandising Inc. of Goodlettsville, Tenn., and 7,500 Dragster and Funny Car toys imported by International Sourcing Ltd. of Springfield, Mo.

Four of the recalled products were imported by Schylling Associates Inc. of Rowley, Mass., including the items Duck Family Collectable Wind-Up Toy, Dizzy Ducks Music Box, "Robot 2000" collectable tin robot and Winnie-the-Pooh Spinning Top. The company recalled another 66,000 spinning tops Aug. 22.

Representatives from Schylling Associates Inc. were not immediately available for comment.

Wednesday's recalls include about 7,200 "Big Red" Wagons imported by Northern Tool & Equipment Co. of Burnsville, Minn. Totaling about 405,700, the recalled children's products all had excessive levels of lead in their surface paint.

Although no illnesses connected to the toy car recall have been reported, lead is toxic if ingested by young children. Children's products found to have more than 0.06 percent lead accessible to users are subject to a recall.
More toys recalled on lead paint hazard

Panel to push for greater U.S. recall power



http://money.cnn.com/2007/11/07/news/in ... tm?cnn=yes

Our government and corporations at work. They think, I'm sure, that this would just be acceptable tolerance in the cost of doing business and nothing to be alarmed about. No biggie, we'll fix it, they'll say.

I heard this on Paul Harvey this morning!
Scary stuff!

PROFITTING WITHOUT, I REPEAT WITHOUT A CONSCIENCE!!

OUTRAGEOUS!!!!

"This is something that they could not have foreseen. This is an extremely hot toy. ... It's a little scary," Byrne said.

Sure it could, to anyone with half a brain. Maybe now that kids are getting sick, someone might decide "Made In China" is a bad thing?

Open borders, FREE TRADE, outsourcing...insourcing....

IT DOESN'T WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STOP PUTTING OUR CHILDREN IN DANGER FOR PROFITS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyday something new pops up as another recall from a Chinese product.
When are our reps going to get tough and stop trading if this is what they export?

This affects some of our youngest. Its just getting way to out of hand with that country.

The toddler who ingested the bubble toy and almost died should never have had access to the toy. It was not age inappropriate for a baby. There is warnings on toys that has small removable parts that they are not be use by certain ages. The mother should be held responsible because a baby will put anything in their mouth and it is up the parent make sure these are not in reach of the child. She should be charge with child neglect or endangerment. At the least, she should not be able to sue the business or the toy maker.
If drugs of any kind are left is reach of a young child, and the child ingest them the parent would be criminally charged.
All this set aside, our government is responsible for making sure our children's toys are safe. Toys and food, etc.