CHARACTER OPTIONS LTD “BINDEEZ” – SUPER SAFE BEADS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. What are “Bindeez” – Super Safe Beads?
A. “Bindeez” – Super Safe Beads are the new beads from Character Options Ltd GR8 Art for use in their “Bindeez” play and activity sets. You use them in exactly the same way as you did the old beads from Moose that were voluntarily recalled by Character Options Ltd. Just lay out your design in the special Bindeez tray as before then spray them with water and your artwork will magically set in place.
Q. Are these the Beads that were withdrawn/recalled?
A. No – just before Christmas Character Options Ltd decided to withdraw and recall earlier versions of “Bindeez” products due to concerns that had been raised about the potential effects of the ingredients on children if swallowed. These are reformulated and improved products
Q. What was the problem back then?
A. An ingredient in the formulation had lead to a small number of cases where children had become ill through swallowing the beads. We undertook checks of our product and even though there had been no issues reported in the UK we voluntarily took the product off the market whilst we concluded our investigations. We are now relaunching the re formulated improved “super safe” product.
Q. How do I know I am using ‘Super Safe’ Beads….How will I identify them?
A. All GR8 Art “Bindeez” packs will carry a bold sticker, or flash on display packs.
Q. Why are they called ‘Super safe’?
A. The bead has been reformulated with safer ingredients. The beads are not designed for human consumption. As a precaution to reduce the likelihood of children eating any beads, accidentally or deliberately, a bitter tasting compound has been added to make the beads unpalatable; this compound is part of the bead, not a coating. Character Options Ltd believe that while the ingredients are safer prevention is the best policy and therefore making the beads taste bitter will remove the attraction to consume them.
Q. What are these ingredients?
A. The ingredients are a trade secret. What Character Options Ltd can tell you is that the beads are made from an inert plastic material often found in school and wood glues, materials approved for use in Cosmetic products and colours approved for use in Food and/or Cosmetics allowed to be in contact with all parts of the body including the mouth. The embittering agent has a long history of safe use and is often found in household products that must not be consumed.
Q. Have these ingredients been tested?
A. All of the “Bindeez” ingredients have been checked by independent UK experts to ensure that the product is not likely to pose a threat to the health of the intended consumers under normal and reasonably foreseeable conditions of use. Independent reviews were carried out to ensure the beads meet all European Toy Safety standards and UK regulations
Q. How do I know they have been tested?
A. Character Options Ltd has a policy of checking all its products and maintaining test reports in a toy product technical file. We are pleased to reassure our customers that testing covers the product and all the ingredients of the product as verified by UK experts. Customers and consumers may be further assured that the company takes its responsibilities seriously and has checked that it has carried out all of the tests needed to show the product is as safe as it can be for use by children and in so doing complies with the law. The company undertakes to carryout ongoing checks to ensure the continued safety of the product.
Q. What if the Beads are eaten?
A. The beads have no attractive odour and posses a bitter taste that is detected soon after placing in the mouth. They are not intended to be eaten and consumption of a large quantity of beads is therefore unlikely. If a few of the beads are eaten, tests show that they should breakdown and pass through the body. Drinking water is advised but
vomiting should not be induced although on occasions this might be a normal outcome for any child that swallows something that doesn’t taste nice.
Medical advice should always be obtained as a precaution when large quantities have been ingested. Character Options Ltd customer service department will be pleased to provide any information concerning Bindeez ingredients to a Physician upon request.
Q. What if the Beads get into eyes or onto skin?
A. The beads are solid but in use will become sticky when sprayed with water. At this stage there is a possibility that the sticky residue can end up on the skin and /or in the eyes through the action of rubbing. In this case, simply rinse with plain water until the residue is removed. The materials are generally non irritating but as with all such product a mild irritation is possible. The child might also carry a residue of the embittering agent on the skin after extensive handling of the beads during play. This will not taste nice if a finger or thumb is placed in the mouth. For that reason Character Options Ltd recommends that children wash their hands after playing with Super Safe Beads.
Q. Will the Beads stain clothing?
A. The level of colour in each bead is insufficient to cause permanent staining. In its diluted form any residue can be removed during the normal washing of clothes using normal domestic wash programmes. If it gets onto clothing in a more concentrated form, for example beads left in a pocket that gets wet, most residues can be removed during the normal wash, and only in a minority of circumstances will a second wash be required.
Q. What do I do with the old Beads?
A. The Beads cannot be recycled so please place them in a plastic bag and dispose of them in normal household waste.
Q. What if a consumer needs more information?
A. If the customer requires further information or guidance Character Options Ltd’s name, address and telephone contact details for its customer services department are given on all packaging.
Character Options Ltd.
Lees Brook Mill,
Lees Road,
Lees,
Oldham.
OL4 5JL. UK
Tel No: 0161 633 9808
Character Options Ltd. Februaray 2008
Please contact Character Options for free replacement beads on the above recall helpline, email us on customercare@charactergroup.plc.uk or visit
www.character-online.co.uk
