A cocktail of germs in a shipment of plastic dolls could have killed children who played with them, a scientist says.
About 160,000 Bouncin' Babies were recalled from Britain, Switzerland, France, Austria, Canada and the United States after laboratory tests revealed unacceptable quantities of micro-organisms, including the penicillin-like bacteria candida.
Microbiologist Dr Richard Schlesinger told the High Court yesterday that, in an allergic child, the dolls could have triggered reactions 'from a simple rash, to wheezing, to heart attack and death'.
He concluded that 'the variety of contaminants and unacceptable levels of micro-organisms are a hazard to all children . . . they are well-documented causes of sickness and disease.' Dr Schlesinger's report blamed manufacturer Kader International Company Ltd for the contamination.
Galco International Toys is seeking US$5 million (HK$38.64 million) in loss and damages from Kader International for the recall and subsequent loss of the product line.
But Kader claims the toy company was using the micro-organisms as an excuse to drop an unpopular product and leave someone else with the bill.
Lawyers for the manufacturer said Galco might have inadvertently helped the microbes to flourish by insisting that every doll be water-tested.
