A children's toy that turns into the deadly date-rape drug fantasy when swallowed has been removed from stores.
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Bindeez Beads, a children's bead-picture craft set, was expected to be a big seller this Christmas after being voted Australia's most popular toy last year.
Instead, the beads have been withdrawn after children in Australia and New Zealand were admitted to hospital after eating the beads.
Canterbury District Health Board spokeswoman Michele Hider said there had been no reported cases of bead poisoning in Canterbury, but Auckland's Starship Children's Hospital has reported two cases of preschoolers affected by the drug.
One of the children was unconscious when admitted to hospital.
Auckland children's emergency department director Dr Richard Aickin said both children were "pretty sleepy" when admitted.
"One was bad enough to come close to requiring ventilation," he said.
Aickin said one toddler vomited up "a large number of beads". The cases were separated by two months, with the second case occurring two weeks ago, he said.
The Australian Poisons Information Centre said a chemical in the Chinese-made toys metabolised into gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, better known as fantasy or GHB.
GHB has been implicated in one New Zealand death and has been banned since 2002.
The drug is known as a date-rape drug because it reduces inhibitions and can cause short-term amnesia.
The company that makes Bindeez, Moose Enterprises, said tests revealed the Chinese manufacturer had substituted some of the materials used in the beads without approval.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs spokesman Martin Rushton said there was no indication the poisonous substance was used in any other toy.
Moose Enterprises said that when the product was reintroduced it would be coated in Bitrex, a foul-tasting substance that discouraged children from eating the beads.
Christchurch retailers contacted yesterday had all removed the bead sets from sale.
One retailer said the sets had not been on sale long but were expected to be a popular seller for Christmas.
Whitcoulls, which removed Bindeez from sale on Tuesday, sold a $25 starter pack, a $50 activity pack and bead refills for $13.
The coloured beads came with an applicator pen and a board for setting out bead designs.
When sprayed with water, the beads bonded together, creating bead pictures.
Bindeez Beads won Toy of the Year at the Melbourne Toy and Hobby Fair in April.
