Jess McDiarmid
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, November 14, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - A popular children's toy has been yanked off the shelves following concern that when swallowed it can metabolize into a hallucinogenic "date rape" drug.

Aqua Dots, distributed in North America by Toronto-based Spin Master, are small beads that stick together when sprayed with water, allowing children to make three-dimensional designs.

Aqua Dots can cause comas, seizures, breathing problems and even death if they are swallowed. The product was recalled last week. - photo courtesy of U.S. Consumer and Product Safety Commission

>When swallowed, the coating that makes the beads stick can reportedly metabolize into gammahydroxybutyrate or GHB - commonly known as the date rape drug. In children it can cause comas, breathing problems, seizures and even death.

Dr. Andre Corriveau, chief medical officer of health and assistant deputy minister with the Department of Health and Social Services, said anyone with Aqua Dots should ensure that children don't have access to them and dispose of them safely.

"Obviously you wouldn't want this to be put in the trash," said Corriveau. "It would have to be handled like something that is poison."

People who need advice on what to do with Aqua Dots should contact their regional environmental health officer, he said.

The toys are manufactured in China by the Australian company Moose Enterprise for children four years and older.

Spin Master issued a North American-wide voluntary recall Nov. 7. The toys were pulled from the shelves in Australia where three children were sent to hospital in 10 days after swallowing the beads, which are sold under the name Binbeez there.

In North America, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported two incidents over the past several days. In one, a 20-month-old child became dizzy, vomited and fell into a coma after swallowing Aqua Dots. Another child who swallowed Aqua Dots vomited, became comatose and spent five days in hospital.

The toys have been pulled from Wal-Mart in Yellowknife, said Richard Farquhar, store manager. Aqua Dots had been on Wal-Mart's list of top 12 Christmas toys.

More information on the recall is available at www.aquadotrecall.com.