Toys 'R' Us Canada pulls toys similar to those found to contain date rape drug

Last Updated: Wednesday, November 7, 2007 | 4:01 PM ET

CBC News

Toys "R" Us Canada on Wednesday announced it is pulling Aqua Dots toys from store shelves, after similar products in Australia were found to contain a powerful chemical that metabolizes into a potent date-rape drug when consumed.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we have stopped shipping this item and are working with the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada," the Canadian importer, Spin Master, said in a release.

Aqua Dots toys are similar to Bindeez, which were recalled in Australia because they made children ill.
(Health Canada)

Australian officials have issued a ban on Bindeez toys, after three children who swallowed beads fell ill over a 10-day period. Ingesting the chemical compound can result in unconsciousness, seizures, drowsiness, coma and death.

Australian Minister for Fair Trading Linda Burney announced a ban on the products Tuesday.

"The Children's Hospital at Westmead has undertaken tests on the ingested beads and found they contained a potentially harmful chemical called 1,4-butanediol," Burney said in a release.

"According to the product description, Bindeez should contain 1,5-pentanediol which is non-toxic and used in glue."

Burney urged parents take the Bindeez products, imported by Moose Enterprise, away from children.

Moose Enterprise announced Tuesday that it was recalling the products.

"The company's products, which are manufactured by internationally approved toy manufacturers in China, are subject to world-standard independent testing," the company said.

"Moose Enterprise has not experienced any safety concerns with its products since the company was purchased by its current management team six years ago."