Toys Linked To "Date Rape" Drug Pulled
Aqua Dots Metabolize Into GHB When Swallowed And Can Cause Comas
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Aqua Dots toys seized in Hong Kong were being tested today after scientists found that similar toys contained a chemical that converts into a powerful 'date rape' drug when ingested, officials said, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007. At least five children in the United States and Australia have been hospitalized after swallowing the toy beads. (CBS/CPSC)
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Toying With Danger
A look at some of the latest toy recalls and tips for playing it safe
At least five children in the United States and Australia have been hospitalized after swallowing the toy beads, which are used in arts and crafts projects. They can be arranged into designs and fused when sprayed with water.
"They look like brightly colored little candies and they're manufactured in China, where, as you know, they're cutting corners in these factories, using toxic chemicals," Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm remarked Thursday during an interview of Julie Vallese, spokesperson for the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Australian scientists say a chemical coating on the beads, when ingested, metabolizes into the so-called date-rape drug gamma hydroxy butyrate. When eaten, the compound - made from common and easily available ingredients - can induce unconsciousness, seizures, drowsiness, coma and death.
The toys were sent to a laboratory in Hong Kong for tests, a customs official said, requesting anonymity in line with policy.
If the tests come back positive for the chemical, suppliers of the toy in Hong Kong could face jail terms of one year and fines of $12,877, she said.
The toys are called Bindeez in Australia, where they were named toy of the year at an industry function this year, and in the United States they go by the name Aqua Dots.
Retailer Toys "R" Us said in a statement it pulled all the toy beads from its stores in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia after officials in Australia ordered them off the shelves Tuesday.
"We were alerted just this week of the incidents, and this was lightning speed to get this product off the shelves," Vallese told The Early Show. "We want parents to act equally as fast, making sure that they take this product away from their kids."
A woman whose toddler son ingested a popular toy that contains a chemical that turns into a powerful "date rape" drug when eaten said she knew he was ill when he began to stumble, seemed drunk and started vomiting.
The mother, Shelby Esses, said her 20-month-old son Jacob, fell down and was limp after getting into his older sister's Aqua Dots.
"And that's when we knew what he had eaten and that things were pretty bad," she told ABC's "Good Morning America."
A company spokeswoman for Moose Enterprises' Hong Kong office said the production of the toy was outsourced to a mainland Chinese factory. She refused to elaborate and referred all further requests for comment to the company's head office in Australia.
"Our Hong Kong office is only responsible for operations such as logistics and shipping arrangements, we don't have any firsthand information," the employee, who would only give her surname, Lo, told The Associated Press.
Moose Enterprises earlier said Bindeez and Aqua Dots were made at the same factory in Shenzhen, in China's southern Guangdong province. The company said the product is distributed in 40 countries.
The toys were supposed to use 1,5-pentanediol, a nontoxic compound found in glue, but instead contained the harmful 1,4-butanediol, which is widely used in cleaners and plastics.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1999 declared the chemical a Class I Health Hazard, meaning it can cause life-threatening harm.
Both chemicals are manufactured in China and elsewhere, including by major multinational companies, and are also marketed over the Internet.
It's not clear why 1,4-butanediol was substituted. However, there is a significant difference in price between the two chemicals. The Chinese online trading platform ChemNet China lists the price of 1,4 butanediol at between about $1,350-$2,800 per metric ton, while the price for 1,5-pentanediol is about $9,700 a ton.
Vallese says parents should be vigilant.
"Look in the carpets. Look under the sofa. Make sure that none of these little beads are just stray around your house because we don't want them in the hands of children, and we certainly don't want them to ingest them at all," she told The Early Show.
Editor's note: The quote of Hannah Storm in the third paragraph of this story was earlier attributed to Julie Vallese.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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See all 103 CommentsRe: "Millions of Chinese-made toys for children have been pulled from shelves in North America and Australia after scientists found they contain a chemical that converts into a powerful "date rape" drug when ingested. "
The "wide-stancers" will be racing to the stores before these toys are returned, no doubt!
Re: "Toys Containing "Date Rate" Drug Pulled"
Have the CBS proof-readers been swallowing their beads?
http://www.toysmadeinamerica.com/
Vote for Rupaul for president!
It is the responsibility of the US company to specify the manfufacturing ingredients, along with the specs for the design of the products, AND to monitor the quality OF THEIR OWN PRODUCTS.
To that person who implied that the Chinese are intentionally trying to poison anyone, it''s time for your meds.
However, as soon as it was realised that the biodegradation product, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, had undesirable pharmacological effects, the research (in Germany) was abandoned.
Geez, when I was in college, we called them "micro dots"!
Gotta get me some of them Aqua Dots!
They made way too big a splash going into a drink, anyway.
Glad I don''t buy that junk for my kids.
But wait that is not the Republican way they say the seller will take care of the buyer.
How is it going so far GOP.
Posted by Taylor613 at 08:02 AM : Nov 08, 2007
I didn''t catch the interview in question, but after seven years of this Administration and the attack ads they got into power with, I have to say that harsh questioning is the only thing they will respond to.
They certainly don''t respond to their job descriptions, the spirit of the law, the letter of the law, the Constitution, the wishes of the majority of the nation''s citizens, or even good common sense.
I WANTED to HEAR what the the lady was saying from the CPSC. Not Hannah Storm rudely overtalking her. That is not an interview! That was just being RUDE and trying to get her flame points in. It was not the fault of that lady for this recall. Hannah Storm made it a very personal attack and should be made to apologize!
And there are US inspectors in the countries these toys are coming from. They need to be more aggressive and better trained to catch items like this BEFORE they are shipped.
I''m of the opinion that anybody who intentionally went to work for this Administration knew they were getting into a barrel with a skunk in it, and shouldn''t be offended to find out that the American Public - and reporters - have found that they don''t like the stink that perfumes their clothes.
Posted by Taylor613
Well gee Taylor613, just last week we heard that the head of the CPSC didn''t want her budget and powers expanded, and then hearing two days later that she was jet setting all over the globe on the dimes of the people she is supposed to be watching. Why should it surprise you that people are getting tired of the rotten stink of corruption coming out of this administration?
I''d get Lunesta but the cost of seeing a doctor and getting prescription meds is ridiculous. I''d much rather buy $5 worth of beads and sleep good for a year.
Thanks China!
Even if they were not poisoned, why would they be allowed to sell something that almost invites children to put them in their mouth!
The violence broke out after an estimated 80,000 ant-iBUSH demonstrators - led by university students - marched peacefully to the Supreme Court to protest constitutional changes that would greatly expand BUSH/CHENEY power if voters agree to the changes in December. Unrest, if it continues, could mar a Dec. 2 referendum on the controversial reforms
The amendments being protested would abolish presidential term limits, give the president control over the Central Bank and let him create new provinces governed by handpicked officials.
The protesters demand the referendum be suspended, saying the amendments would weaken civil liberties and give BUSH AND CHENEY unprecedented power to declare states of emergency.
``Don''''''''t allow AMERICA to go down a path that nobody wants to cross , during the march to the Supreme Court.
BUSH, who was first elected in2000, denies the reforms threaten freedom. He says they would instead move AMERICA toward what he calls ``21st century socialism.''''''''''''''''
In televised comments prior to the unrest, BUSH urged ALL AMERICANS to turn out en masse to vote for the reforms. In reference to the opposition, he said: ``Don''''''''t go crazy.''''''''''''''''
SO GO AHEAD AND VOTE HER IN AMERICA, AND SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT...
WITH 250 MILLION AMERICANS THEY CANT KILL US ALL..TIME FOR A REVOLUTION.
The problem will not get better any time soon.
makes you wonder if these are really mistakes. No toys for christmas sorry.
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