Four Kids Hospitalised After Eating Poison Thought to Be a ‘Popping Candy’

At least four children were taken to hospital and many others became really ill after eating what they believed was a ‘popping candy.’

The four kids were among the 25 primary school students at Deception Bay North State School, north of Brisbane, who ate the ‘candy’, which was actually a poison, and complained of nausea, stomach aches and burning throats.

A nine-year-old girl handed a friend poison, telling her the substance was a “new popping candy”, then her friends distributed the green crystal-like substance known as “Mystical Fire” at the school believing she was trying to deceive her fellow classmates.

The product was said to have been passed around in its original packet “” with the label ripped to cover up what the contents were “” to students in Years 4 and 5.

Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed the children had consumed a novelty product available from camping stores that creates multicoloured ­effects in campfires “” mistakenly believing it was white popping candy.

Year 4 student Leilani Nanai was the first to eat the substance after it was given to her by her friend during a break at about 2.20pm, and ate about half of the packet offered.

She told The Courier-Mail that almost immediately, she knows that the product was not candy.

“When I tasted it, I could tell something wasn’t right. Straight away I felt sick in the stomach and got a sore throat. It didn’t feel very nice at all,” she said, adding that the girl who distributed it ripped the part of the packet where it said ‘fire’ to make it seem it wasn’t bad.

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It is believed that the girl involved threw the contents in the bin after Leilani had a bad reaction to it, but another child went and retrieved it and other students then ­consumed the substance.

Leilani’s mother Tara Ward who was informed that her daughter had taken an “unknown substance” described the feeling she felt after receiving the phone call. “The first thought that goes through your head is drugs. It’s an ordeal. The whole time you’re just thinking, ‘what did they take?’ ” she said.

A spokesman from the Department of Education pointed out that the safety and welfare of students was the priority. “The school followed the correct procedure and took immediate action to notify emergency services and parents,” the spokesman said.

He added that the principal is investigating the cause of the incident and if necessary, will take appropriate disciplinary action in line with the school’s Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students.

Police are not investigating because the substance was not an illicit drug.

Sources: Couriermail.com.au and Kidspot.com.au