Concerned parents have flocked to Facebook to vent their frustrations about New World's latest giveaway.
The supermarket was giving out 'Magic Snow' over the weekend -- a plastic polymer product similar to what is used in disposable nappies.
In since-deleted posts on the New World Facebook page, parents voiced concerns about the product's safety, saying it was blocking drains, couldn't be thrown as it could injure eyes and would vomiting should be induced if it was eaten.
How difficult the product was to clean up was also a concern for customers, including Auckland-based Anna Mulloy.
"The clean-up was a nightmare and it's gone everywhere. I couldn't wipe it with a cloth, I couldn't sweep it up with a dustpan and brush. We ended up vacuuming it up," says Ms Mulloy.
Says she was concerned when her daughter put some in her mouth, so checked the package.
"It says do not eat, do not swallow and you should induce vomiting if it is swallowed. So that put me into a bit of a panic and we stopped that play immediately," says Ms Mulloy.
Tauranga mum Natasha McKinnon says she became concerned when she went to clean up after her child played with the product.
"It took a long time, it doesn't wipe up. You can't use water on it because it swells again. It took about 15 minutes to clean it up and make sure it was all off," says Ms McKinnon.
"I think it's a product that shouldn't be for children's use at all. They really didn't think this marketing idea through correctly. Have they actually opened it up, tipped it on the floor and cleaned it up?"
The New Zealand National Poisons Centre has received several calls from concerned parents. It says the product is not toxic but could be a choking hazard.
Foodstuffs, owners of the New World franchise, have issued a statement saying the items were clearly labelled with instructions that adult supervision was recommended.
"As with any toy, the Magic Snow has to adhere to [safety] standards," says a Foodstuffs spokesperson.
"Advice from the manufacturer was that it is not suitable for children under four years of age, and as an added precaution Foodstuffs increased this age to five. Additionally, Foodstuffs undertook independent scientific advice as to the potential risk of harm if product instructions were ignored and it was consumed and the guidance given was that the risk was negligible."
The company added that the labelling advice clearly stated that it should not be put down the sink or the drain.
"Hundreds of thousands of customers shopped at our New World stores over the weekend and, with the exception of a small number of complaints, feedback has been very positive," added Foodstuffs.
In addition to deleting the Facebook post about Magic Snow, a video of the product on the New World website been made 'private' -- it is now unable to be viewed by the public.
Newshub.
