Toy distributor Just Fun Toys has recalled all its stocks in South Africa of Bindeez Magic Beads, the distributor said on Thursday.
The toy consists of separate beads that can be joined into many forms and shapes by spraying the intended design with water.
The stock was recalled as a new bead coating, changed by the Chinese manufacturer without consulting its developers, was found to be potentially harmful if ingested, MD of Just Fun Toys Stephen Hurst said in a statement on Thursday.
While the toy had passed all required international standards using the original ingredients given by toy developer Moose Enterprises of Australia, the new coating that allows the beads to join was found to be potentially dangerous if ingested.
It was discovered that certain batches of the beads were with a chemical that, when ingested, metabolises into the date-rape drug gamma-hydroxybutyrate, also known as liquid ecstasy.
Only 30% of the total stock was released, 90% of which has been retrieved.
Just Fun Toys appealed to anyone who purchased the toy to return it for a full refund.
Hurst said that Just Fun Toys’s Christmas catalogue still includes this toy as the recall occurred after the catalogue was published.
Australian officials introduced a nationwide ban on the toy earlier this month. Three children had been hospitalised after falling unconscious when they ingested the tiny beads. The toy was also pulled from shelves in North America. — Sapa