Connecting The (Aqua) Dots

Today we had yet another recall of toys that our kids are playing with, and frankly, it’s getting outrageous. My kids played with Aqua Dots, a hot toy over the summer. Now, it turns out that these popular toys, which were advertised on TV and can be found at most stores, can be harmful to children. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has pulled the toy from store shelves after receiving two reports of children swallowing the beads and becoming unconscious.

Aqua Dots are sticky, tiny dots that look like colorful candies. They could easily stick to fingers and be licked off or mistakenly ingested by a young child. The toxic glue covering the Aqua Dots, which are made in China, unbelievably contains a chemical that metabolizes into the date rape drug GHB when swallowed.

After my kids brought them home from a birthday party over the summer, we played with them once and I threw them away. They just seemed too hard to work with and I worried about how small the dots were. Now, as it turns out, they could cause horrific damage to any child.

So, here's the question: how did these toys pass inspection in the first place? Why aren't toys produced in China raising more red flags? Manufacturers there are cutting corners and using toxic substances that are hurting our kids. You've heard all about the lead recalls ... how many more dangerous toys are on the shelves this holiday season?

The Secretary of Health and Humans Services, Michael Leavitt, was on our show Monday and said is to shop at respected retailers. Well, guess what? Aqua Dots were sold at Target, Wal-Mart and Toys R Us -- the stores where most of us buy toys. Today, Julie Vallese of the CPSC told me that her boss, Nancy Nord, has asked for more resources, but hasn't gotten them. Why isn't the CPSC demanding resources? Why have they waited until now? And why aren't they getting more support, if that's what they need?

This is not our responsibility as parents to somehow decide which toys might be harmful, but it is incumbent upon us to ask questions and demand answers and action. And that's what we plan to do on The Early Show, because I don't know about you, but I think this is unacceptable. Someone has to stand up and take responsibility for protecting our kids. Stay tuned.