Toxic ‘date-rape’ substance on toys

BEIJING – A series of Chinese-made toys contain a deadly ‘date-rape’ drug, China’s safety watchdog confirmed after the products were recalled in the United States and Australia because they made children sick.

The Wangqi Product Factory in Shenzhen, a city just over the border from Hong Kong, made the toys that are coated with the industrial chemical 1,4-butanediol, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine said in a statement issued late Saturday. When ingested the chemical metabolises into gamma hydroxy butyrate, also known as GHB, which can cause breathing problems, loss of consciousness, seizures, drowsiness, coma and death.Millions of units of the popular craft toys, which are sold as Aqua Dots in the United States and as Bindeez in Australia, were recalled in those countries last week after children who swallowed its bead-like parts fell sick.The toys also were recalled in Britain, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries.The recall is the latest in a slew of product quality scandals that has tarnished China’s image as an exporter of reliable goods.The government has tried to shore up the country’s reputation by increasing inspections, selectively punishing companies and launching a campaign to boost quality.The toys are manufactured for Australia-based Moose Enterprises, and production was outsourced to Wangqi by a Hong Kong agent, the safety watchdog said.Nampa-APWhen ingested the chemical metabolises into gamma hydroxy butyrate, also known as GHB, which can cause breathing problems, loss of consciousness, seizures, drowsiness, coma and death.Millions of units of the popular craft toys, which are sold as Aqua Dots in the United States and as Bindeez in Australia, were recalled in those countries last week after children who swallowed its bead-like parts fell sick.The toys also were recalled in Britain, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries.The recall is the latest in a slew of product quality scandals that has tarnished China’s image as an exporter of reliable goods.The government has tried to shore up the country’s reputation by increasing inspections, selectively punishing companies and launching a campaign to boost quality.The toys are manufactured for Australia-based Moose Enterprises, and production was outsourced to Wangqi by a Hong Kong agent, the safety watchdog said.Nampa-AP