Exploding Candy Burns Mother

GIBBSTOWN, N.J. -- A Halloween trick was anything but a treat for one local parent, and she is warning other parents to watch out for what looks like a candy bag being sold at area stores.

"I couldn't believe that these things were being sold on the Good Humor truck to these kids," said Gina Orio.

Orio's son came running in with the little foil packs and asked his mother to open the candy he thought he had bought.

"As soon as I popped open the bag, it burned when the packet exploded, and the contents of the bag went in my eyes and went in my face. And I'm telling you, it burned," Orio said.

The foil packs were not candy, but so-called "stink bombs," or "perfume bombs," marketed under the name Popsy-Pop and distributed by Anpesil Distributors and Services of Gibbstown. The packets go off when the contents inside are combined. Gina said the packaging and directions on the packet she opened were vague. She said the only warning is one for a choking hazard.

"I thought it was baseball cards, and when I got the bag open I discovered it wasn't baseball cards -- it was a chemical-explosive thing," Orio said.

"If these parents don't know and their kids get hold of this and it's acid, I could just imagine what would happen to somebody," Orio said.

The whole episode has taught Orio's son to warn others.

"Not to get it, because it might burn their eyes like it did my mom," said Mason Goetschius.

Copyright 2003 by NBC 10. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Author: NBC10