By Ho Lian-Yi

LIKE everyone else, Mr Soh Kim Heng had initially blamed bad food for causing the mass vomiting and diarrhoea at Ai Tong School last month.

But it turns out it might not have been the potato chips or prawn crackers that students had brought to class for a birthday party that was at fault.

Investigations by the authorities have revealed that the culprit is likely to have been an innocuous-looking squeeze toy instead.

Mr Soh, whose son was among the 17 Primary Six pupils who were sent to KK Women's and Children's Hospital for outpatient treatment on 4 Feb, was surprised at the results of the investigations.

"I found it strange. It is very rare for a toy to be the cause of something like this," said the 43-year-old general manager of a construction firm.

Investigations revealed that prior to the incident, the students had played with a squeeze toy that resembles a broad bean called Extrusion Bean.

And they had not washed their hands before eating, according to a joint press release issued by the Consumers Association Of Singapore (Case) and the Ministry Of Health (MOH) yesterday.

Case and MOH warned of a toxic chemical found in the toy, which is manufactured in Zhejiang, China.

It said laboratory tests conducted during the investigation discovered the presence of two phthalates on the toy - dibutyl phthalates (DBP) and diethylhexyl phthalates (DEHP).

Both chemicals were banned in the European Union in 2005 because of their long-term toxic effects.

Consumption of these chemicals can cause diarrhoea, nausea, stomachache and vomiting.

Mr Tan Yap Kin, principal of Ai Tong School, said the "manipulative-like toy" was sold by a vendor at a science fair held at the school.

He explained: "As such toys incorporate scientific principles, they are useful in teaching science concepts and to excite pupils' interest in learning science."

He said all students have recovered and there have been no similar incidents since.

The vendor Mr Kevin Coh, 30, said he imported 150 pieces from agents online as a sample to test the market in January.

He said he sold about 80 to 90 pieces during the science fair at $2.90 each. He added that the toys were sold in Japan and Hong Kong.

"It was invented by a Japanese as a series of stress-relief toys and it was hugely popular in Hong Kong,"he said.

Although he is baffled at how the toy could have caused the children to fall sick, he said he will be stopping all sales and destroying all stocks of the product.

Full compensation

"I am also offering a full compensation for all parents and children," he added.

MOH and Case advises all consumers who own the toy, Extrusion Bean, to immediately discard it.

Those who have handled the toy and now suffer from diarrhoea, nausea, stomachache and vomiting should seek medical help immediately.

Case advises distributors and retailers of the toy to recall and stop selling the toy with immediate effect.

Consumers who bought the toy can call Case about where they had bought it at 6463 1811.

This article was first published in The New Paper.