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.

Also recalled today were more than 400,000 toys because of high lead levels in paint. These include the Robot 2000, a Winnie-the-Pooh Spinning Top, and pull-back action cars imported by Dollar General Merchandising. The Chinese government has already issued an import ban on more than 700 toy factories in the southern Guangdong region because of poor products.

We are amazed at all the recalls that are still occurring and were flabbergasted when we read this:

“The news jolted the toy industry because Aqua Dots has been one of the few bright stars of the toy selling season, which, along with overall retailing, has gotten off to a sluggish start. The item, which had been heavily advertised, had appeared on many toy experts’ list of must-have holiday toys, and toy sellers are now in the midst of canceling advertising and scrambling to figure out how to replace it.”

Over 4.2 million units of Aquadots were made. Shouldn’t we be more concerned about what goes into our children than what makes them cool?