A Hong Kong company apologized Thursday for the millions of beads that were made with poisonous inexpensive glue, due to children’s obsession with putting their toys in their mouths. In American the beads are known as Aqua Dots and Bindeez in other European countries. The products were recalled a number of months after a reported fourteen kids were found sick after eating the beads. A few children ended up in comas.
Medical scientists in Australia found that one of the key ingredients in the glue broke down in the body into GHB, also known as a date rape drug in the U.S. that had been banned. GHB is liable to end in unconsciousness or even death.
The company felt stigmatized due to all the bad press release that “Made in China” has been associated within the past year. They apologized to the consumers and their parents for the misfortunes.
China has had a poor following because of problems with toys and safety regulations such as Mattel, Hasbro, and Disney products. An associate of the toy industry felt that just as China was stepping up, the bead problem pushed them back down in the wrong direction yet again.
The glue issue has been solved says the manufacturers, claiming to have a more new, cheaper, and reliable product. They say the glue even helps make the beads softer. (I assume for easy digestion?) Only the beads in America have been recalled. European lab results found no problem with the beads that Hong Kong distributed. For the future, the U.S. will resume its close eye on imports.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/30/business/worldbusiness/30toys.html?_r=1&ref=worldbusiness&oref=slogin
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