Toys Made in China

READ THIS MESSAGE CAREFULLY...especially those with kids...CHRISTMAS/YEAR END IS COMING, BE CAREFUL ON WHAT YOU GIVE ESPECIALLY THOSE TOYS MADE IN CHINA (FOR TOHSE BELOW AGE OF 3)...YOU MAY BE GIVING AWAY ILLNESS INSTEAD OF JOY TO THESE KIDS...

SCOTT McDONALD, Associated Press Writer Sun Nov 11, 9:44 AM ET
BEIJING - China's safety watchdog confirmed Saturday that toy beads recalled in the United States and Australia after sickening children contain a substance that can turn into the "date-rape" drug after ingested. The toys, coated with the industrial chemical 1,4-butanediol, were made by the Wangqi Product Factory in Shenzhen, a city just over the border from Hong Kong, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine said in a statement.

When ingested, the chemical metabolizes into the "date-rape" drug 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 toys, which are sold as Aqua Dots in the United States and as Bindeez in Australia, were recalled in those countries as well as Britain, Malaysia, Singapore and elsewhere this past week after children began falling sick from swallowing the toy's bead-like parts.

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 publicity 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. It did not identify the Hong Kong company."

BTW, I AM WONDERING WHY ARE THESE MANUFACTURERS DO SUCH A DESPICABLE ACT ? DON'T THEY HAVE KIDS ALSO ? OR THEY FAMILY OR RELATIVES ALSO MAY BE AFFECTED TOO ?