Recall ordered for toy that turns into drug
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/recall-for-toy-that-turns-into-drug/2007/11/06/1194329225773.html
David Rood
November 7, 2007
A POPULAR children's toy found to contain a chemical that the
human body turns into the party drug "fantasy", or "GHB", has
been banned in three states and is being recalled by its
Melbourne creator.
With the Melbourne Cup holiday yesterday, the Brumby Government
is yet to decide whether it will follow NSW, ACT, South
Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory in
banning the award-winning craft toy called Bindeez.
Three children, two in NSW and one in Queensland, have been
admitted to hospital in the past 10 days after ingesting the
toy's beads.
The toy is produced by Melbourne company Moose and won this
year's toy of the year award at the Melbourne Toy and Hobby Fair.
Bindeez consists of colourful craft beads that are joined
together to create designs. They are sprayed with water to fix them.
The company yesterday ordered a nationwide recall of the
Chinese-made product, saying a chemical had been substituted
without the company's knowledge. The toy contains beads that have
been found to contain a chemical that the body metabolises into
gamma-hydroxy butyrate (GHB), also known as "grievous bodily
harm". It should instead contain a non-toxic glue.
Scientists in NSW discovered the chemical's link to GHB, which
can have serious effects such as seizures and is potentially
life-threatening.
NSW Minister for Fair Trading Linda Burney ordered that the toy
be removed from all store shelves and recommended that parents
take it away from children.
Ms Burney said an investigation of the toy would consider whether
the use of the chemical was deliberate. The NSW Office of Fair
Trading had notified its counterparts around Australia of its
decision.
Moose's marketing manager, Christie Nicholas, said the voluntary
product recall followed a small number of incidents worldwide in
which children had swallowed beads and needed medical attention.
"These incidents did not result in any long-term effects," she
said. "When used as intended and clearly instructed, the product
is safe. However, if misused and swallowed, it may have adverse
results and cause the child to become ill."
Ms Nicholas said that when the product was returned to the market
an ingredient would be added to the beads to produce a foul taste.
A spokeswoman for Victorian Consumer Affairs Minister Tony
Robinson said the minister would ask Consumer Affairs Victoria to
review the product and have it removed if necessary.
WA's Consumer Protection Commissioner Patrick Walter said he had
become aware of the problem with Bindeez early yesterday and
imposed an immediate ban.
WA consumer protection officers were sent to remove the toy from
shelves.
The mother of 10-year-old Charlotte Lehane, one of the NSW
children who fell ill, told ABC Radio she was "beside herself"
when her daughter began vomiting and convulsing and passed out.
It was reported that a 19-month-old boy was taken to hospital in
Toowoomba, Queensland, after ingesting one of the toy's "magic
beads".
The boy's grandfather told ABC Radio that the child fell
unconscious after swallowing some of the beads.
With AAP
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