AquaDots Recall
In what promises to be a really interesting story, a child’s toy called Aqua Dots has been recalled, the reason for the recall is that when eaten, the toy beads are processed into GHB or more commonly called the Date Rape Drug. Really what we are asking is what form of plastic can be broken down into GBH, and how did that end up in a children’s toy. This is the first time anything like this has been in the news, so what in the longer run is going to happen to the outsourcing of the Chinese toy market, and how many other toys have been made with a same or similar chemical process.
More toys made in China have been recalled today. Scientists have discovered that a chemical in them is the equivalent of the date rape drug GHB (gamma hydroxy butyrate,) which can cause seizures, drowsiness, unconsciousness, coma, or death.Two kids in the U.S. and three in Australia were hospitalized after swallowing beads in Bindeez and Aqua Dots. Used for arts and craft projects and sold in retail stores and over the Internet, the beads fuse together when sprayed with water. The toys, which were distributed in 40 countries, were made at the same factories, and most retailers, such as Toys ‘R Us, have taken them off their shelves. Source: Gear Live
Not blaming anyone here on this one, but as a fantastic story, this one really takes the top of the heap. Toy recalls are nothing new; we have seen them for a long time now. But never have we seen one recalled because of how a body digests said toy. Much like the maligned chemical composition of the Apple Iphone, has the rush to market, or manufacturing processes ended up changing how we are doing business?
Outsourcing is also nothing new, and the Chinese have been building up a formidable manufacturing process that has swamped just about everyone else in terms of what is being built. The question of standards, practices, and testing of those products is what the real question should be. It is great that they are catching them as they enter the USA, but from a wasted time, resources, and dollar figure, those companies would be under a lot of scrutiny if they were building stuff in the USA. It is good to have a great toy, but in the world of building things for consumption or play, we need to start taking a look at how things are actually done, before they are done, and not after they hit the market.
China is a great country, but this one calls into doubt many of the international standards, and manufacturing processes in their country. That is the hard part, how do you get someone who is working for bottom dollar to institute costly testing, controls, and processes that they do not currently have.
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