Parents need to know: toy containing 'Date-Rape' drug now pulled from U.S. shelves

Yesterday, Bethany told us that Australia recalled Bindeez toys for containing the 'date-rape' drug gamma hydroxy butyrate. Well it seems that today the U.S. has followed suit by recalling the popular toy Aqua Dots for the same reason.

Two children in the U.S. and three in Australia were hospitalized after swallowing the beads from the toys. Shockingly,
these toys were found to contain a chemical that converts into a powerful "date rape" drug when ingested. In the United States, the toy goes by the name Aqua Dots, a highly popular holiday toy distributed by Toronto-based Spin Master Toys. It is called Bindeez in Australia, where ironically it was named toy of the year at an industry function earlier this year.

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. It's reported that the toys were supposed to use 1,5-pentanediol, a nontoxic compound found in glue, but instead contained the harmful 1,4-butanediol, which is widely used in cleaners and plastics and happens to be much less expensive than pentanediol. Both chemicals are manufactured in China.

To prevent any other child from being hurt, parents should take the product away from children immediately. Sadly, to my horrification, my boys actually had these Aqua Dots -- the glow in the dark kind -- on their Christmas list.