KEY POINTS:
A bottle containing brightly coloured, highly poisonous seeds sold as a novelty item called "message in a bottle" has been urgently recalled.
The Ministry of Health and MAF Biosecurity NZ said the decorative jar, containing about 12 seeds from the plant Abrus precatorius or rosary pea, was designed to be opened so the recipient could read the message inside.
Of 72 products imported, only six have not been found. They were sold through Abstractz Interiors in Onehunga, Lagoona in Mt Maunganui and the Foxton Bookshop.
John Fountain, of the National Poisons Centre, said chewing the seed could result in serious health effects and possibly death in a child.
People with the products, or who know their whereabouts, are asked to call 0800-809-966 immediately.
