US, Aussie Officials Yank GHB-Producing Toys

theodp writes "Questioned about concerns over China-made toys, Toys 'R' Us CEO Jerry Storch predicted 'this will be the safest holiday season ever.' Oops. On the same day Storch's interview ran in Fortune, Toys 'R' Us joined other North American and Australian retailers to pull millions of Chinese-made toy bead sets from shelves after scientists found they contain a chemical that when ingested metabolizes into GHB, the date-rape drug gamma hydroxy butyrate. Two children in the US and three in Australia were hospitalized after swallowing the beads."

Comments

Re:Wait: swallowing the beads???!!

[Random Walk]

Did you ever notice that (a) about 100 per cent of playgrounds are rated for children aged 3+ only, and that (b) about 100 per cent of toys are rated for children aged 3+ only? It's all about CYA, and since your children need to play someplace and with something, of course you have to ignore this bullshit and buy your children what you think is appropriate.

The stupid thing is, since practically nothing is 'officially' rated suitable for children below kindergarten age, you have no guidance at all for buying toys (and you get into the habit of ignoring age ratings). Those few things that are rated for toddlers are usually incredibly boring, and will keep a toddler busy for about 5min maximum.

GHB

[circletimessquare]

meet will wheaton, who forever more will be thought if as wesley crusher, no matter what he does, even though he left that role behind in the 1980s

meet the spotted owl, who will forever more be thought of as the enemy of logging, but it's just a bird

meet the element lead, which has wonderful uses in nuclear reactors and batteries, but will forever more be thought of as something china likes to put in children's toys

first impressions are unfair, but you will forgive me if i have more sympathy with lead, the spotted owl and will wheaton than i do with a dangerous drug like ghb