Millions of Toys with “Date Rape” Chemical Recalled After Five Children are Injured

Two children in the United States and three children in Australia were hospitalized after swallowing beads from a popular toy product that contain a chemical that metabolizes into a potent date rape drug when absorbed into the body.

The two children who became sick in the United States went into nonsresponsive comas. One of the children, a 20-month-old toddler, has recovered completely. The other child is recovering.

The toy, called Aqua Dots in the United States, has been recalled. 4.2 million Aqua Dots toys have been pulled off toy shelves throughout Canada, the United States, and Australia. Spin Master Toys, a Toronto-based company, distributes the product in North America. The toy is called Bindeez in Australia.

Aqua Dots toys are very popular in the United States and have been sold at major retail stores since April 2007. Aqua Dots were on Wal-Mart Stores’ list of top 12 Christmas toys for this year.

The toys are manufactured in China. The toy’s beads can be arranged into designs when sprayed with water. According to scientists, a chemical that coats the beads, when swallowed, turns into gamma hydroxy butyrate, the date rape drug, which can cause unconsciousness, drowsiness, seizures, coma, and death.

If your child was injured by a defective toy, you may be able to sue the manufacturer or distributor by filing a products liability lawsuit. An experienced products liability attorney can let you know whether you have grounds for a claim or lawsuit.

In other toy recent recall-related news, 405,700 toys said to be contaminated with lead where also pulled off shelves in the United States on Wednesday. Toys recalled include Pull-Back Action toy cars, “Big Red” wagons, Dragster and Funny Car toys, Duck Family wind up toys, Dizzy Ducks music boxes, and Winnie-the-Pooh spinning top products.

Toy contaminated with ‘date rape’ drug pulled, CNN.com, November 8, 2007
List of Lead-Contaminated Toys Recalled, AP, November 7, 2007

Related Web Resources:

GHB Drug Fact Sheet

Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB): A Newer Drug of Abuse, American Family Physician, December 1, 2000

If your child has sustained injuries or become ill because of a defective toy or any other defective product In Maryland and Washington D.C., the personal injury law firm of Lebowitz and Mzhen would be happy to offer you a free consultation. Over the years, we have helped many families obtain personal injury compensation for their children’s injuries and the pain and suffering experienced by the entire family as a result.

Contact Lebowitz and Mzhen today.

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