BEWARE DEADLY GLASS ORNAMENT

Fair Trading Minister Margaret Keech today warned Queenslanders a glass bottle ornament containing toxic seeds may be in their homes.

Mrs Keech said the ‘Message in a Bottle’ ornament, sold from variety and discount stores between September and November, contained seeds from the deadly Abrus Precatorius plant.

“The seeds are the size of a tic tac, bead-shaped and are red in colour with a black spot at the base of the seed,” she said.

“The raw seeds contain abrin, one of the deadliest plant toxins known. If cracked and swallowed, one seed could be fatal to a child.

“The seeds are also known as Crab’s Eye, Gidee-Gidee, Precatory Bean, Rosary Pea and Jequirity Bean.

“I cannot stress enough how dangerous this product is.

“If you have purchased this product you can take it back to the trader for a full refund.

“Alternatively please dispose of the item by placing it in a plastic bag and putting it straight into the wheelie bin.”

The product importer has launched a voluntary recall of the product.

For photos of the ornament visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au.

For more information or to report an unsafe product call the Office of Fair Trading’s Product Safety Unit on (07) 3305 9614.

Media Contacts: David Smith 3225 1005/ 0409 496 534 or Olivia Nemeth (OFT) 3119 0067.