It was reported that the New South Wales Government had temporarily banned the sale of the Bindeez Toys due to a compound found which allegedly closely resembles the illegal hallucinogenic drug known as GHB (gammahydroxybutyric acid / gammahydroxybutyrate) - a metabolic product of 1,4-butanediol. The substance may cause poisoning, vomiting, respiratory depression and/or loss of consciousness if ingested in sufficient quantity.
Toys LiFung (Asia) Limited announced that they had removed all Bindeez items from stores in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.
To follow the voluntary recall of Bindeez toys by the manufacturer Moose Enterprise, Toys "R" Us would honor exchange / refund for consumers who purchased Bindeez products from their stores. For more information on the recall, consumers may contact Toys "R" Us through the customer hotline at Tel: 2991 6222 , or visit the website: http://www.toysrus.com.hk/inside/chi-MediaInfo.htm.
Sources:
Toys "R" Us
http://www.toysrus.com.hk/inside/chi-MediaInfo.htm
Moose Enterprise
http://www.mooseworld.com.au/content/bindeezrecall/faq.aspx
Consumers' Institute in New Zealand
http://www.consumer.org.nz/newsitem.asp?docid=3126&category=Recalls&topic=Bindeez%20Magic%20Beads
U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Release # 08-074 (November, 2007)
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08074.html