SINGAPORE: The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE)
and the Ministry of Health (MOH) would like to alert consumers to
the presence of a toxic chemical found in a broad bean squeeze toy,
"Extrusion Bean".
The toy may be the cause of a spate of mass vomiting
involving 17 primary six students at Ai Tong School on February 4.
MOH's investigations found that they had earlier played with the
Extrusion Bean toy and had not washed their hands properly prior to
consuming food in school.
Tests conducted on the toy identified the presence of two
phthalates - dibutyl phthalates and diethylhexyl phthalates.
Phthalates are substances added to plastics to increase their
flexibility and durability. Consumption of phthalates can cause
symptoms such as diarrhoea, nausea, stomach ache and
vomiting.
The two phthalates were banned from all toys and childcare items in
the European Union in 2005, in view of their long-term toxic
effects.
As a safety precaution, CASE and MOH would like to urge all
consumers who own the toy to immediately discard it.
Members who come into contact with the toy and show symptoms such
as diarrhoea, nausea, stomach ache and vomiting should seek medical
help immediately.
CASE would also like all distributors and retailers of the toy to
recall and stop selling the product with immediate effect.
Consumers who had bought the Extrusion Bean toy should inform CASE
of the outlet from which they had made the purchase. CASE can be
reached at 6463 1811.
- CNA/sc