Aqua Dot Toys Recalled After Inducing Comas

Randy Walton

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A Chinese-made toy called Aqua Dots contains a chemical that converts to a "date rape" drug when ingested. Two children in the United States went into comas after swallowing the toy.

The Aqua Dot toy is a highly-popular toy distributed by Spin Master Toys out of Toronto. The toy can be purchased over the internet and in regular stores, and are arranged into designs then fused together when water is applied.

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.

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.

In this mass produced world, where the corporate manta is "produce it cheap, sell it cheap," we've seen the quality of merchandise suffer. But when it involves toys and kids, there is no place to cut corners. I hope these kids recover and I hope these companies are held to account.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.