The magazine, Dmag, issued a national voluntary recall last month after the toy was found to have failed mandatory safety standards.

More than 16,000 of the toys, comprising a red basket catcher, blue popping section and white ping-pong-type ball, have been distributed throughout NSW.

NSW Fair Trading Minister Linda Burney said, ''The ball popper can fire objects at such force that it poses a serious danger to children and adults.''