Aqua Dots Recall: China-Made Toy Produced with Date-Rape Drug

According to the U.S Consumers Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in Washington DC, the product known as "Aqua Dots" causes children to become unconscious, if they swallow the beads included with this product. On November 7, 2007 the CPSC issued a product recall (Release #08-074) for this very popular toy that is distributed by Spin Master of Toronto, Canada, but manufactured in China. This product has been sold in mass quantities since April 2007. They report two incidents of children becoming comatose after swallowing the beads. Both children recovered from the incident after being hospitalized for several days.

Aqua Dots is a highly sought after children's toy that features several tiny, colorful beads that will fuse together when water is applied to them to create numerous designs. The product has the 4+-age label on it, and is sold in most major stores. The product sells in various size kits ranging in price from $17 through $30 (US).

The Aqua Dots beads contain a chemical that the human body will convert to gamma-hydroxy butyrate (GHB), which is known as the "date-rape" drug. This chemical is the industrial solvent known as 1,4-butanediol. This chemical could cause vomiting, dizziness, and eventually a comatose state. This recall involves 4.2 million units of Aqua Dots. Spin Master put out a statement on November 7, 2007 stating that over 60 percent of the units had not reached the consumers. There were many of the units still available on store shelves on the morning of November 8, 2007. The storeowners are removing the units from their stores.

This is another of the latest recalls linked to China made products. The toy is also sold in Australia with the name "Bindeez". It was named Australia's toy of the year. There are three known cases of children being hospitalized in Australia in the last two weeks after ingesting the beads. Tests are being conducted on the product for more information.