The Consumer Product Safety Commission today issued eight more recalls covering more than 550,000
items that contain excessive amounts of lead. Items from the recalls were made in China including decorating sets sold at Toys 'R' Us that were made in Hong Kong. The recalls included not only such toys as a soft Baby Einstein block and wooden blocks from KB Toys but an Eveready flashlight and water bottles sold at Sports Authority. Also in the mix were tumblers and key chains sold at Dollar General stores and journals sold at gift stores. In all cases, consumers are advised to stop using the products immediately. No injuries have been reported. Details on today's recalls follow. Click the title links for photos and refund information.
Baby Einstein Discover & Play Color Blocks
How many: About 35,000
Description: The blue block included with the Baby Einstein Discover & Play Color Blocks, Model 30726 and Model 30881. The blocks are made of soft textures and come in different colors. Only date codes of GE7, GF7, and GG7 are included in this recall. The model number and date code are printed on the labels affixed to the green-colored block.
Reason: Surface paint on the blue block contains excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: Various retailers and specialty stores nationwide from June 2007 through September 2007 for between $10 and $13.
Distributor: Kids II Inc., of Alpharetta, Ga.
Contact information: Contact Kids II toll-free at (866) 203-6788 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.kidsii.com
'Pirates of the Caribbean' Medallion Squeeze Lights
How many: About 79,000
Description: “Pirates of the Caribbean” medallion squeeze light, which is gold-colored and about 1¾-inches across. It is attached to a leather strap with a metal clasp.
Reason: Surface paints on the leather strap attached to the light contain excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: Various retail stores and Web sites nationwide from September 2006 through October 2007 for between $4 and $6.
Importer: Eveready Battery Co., of St. Louis, Mo.
Contact information: Contact Eveready at (800) 925-0628 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.Energizer.com
Wooden Pull-Along Alphabet & Math Blocks Wagons
Wooden Pull-Along Learning Blocks Wagons
10-in-1 Activity Learning Carts
Flip-Flop Alphabet Blocks
How many: About 10,000
Description: Painted wooden blocks in a wagon and painted letters of the alphabet on a flip board.
Reason: Surface paints on the toys can contain excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: KB Toys stores nationwide. The Pull-Along Wagons were sold from August 2005 to August 2007 for between $9 and $13. The 10-in-1 Activity Learning Carts were sold from August 2006 to September 2007 for about $30. The Flip-Flop Alphabet Blocks were sold from August 2006 to September 2007 for about $7.
Importer: KB Toys, Inc., of Pittsfield, Mass.
Contact information: Contact KB Toys toll-free at (888) 843-9www.recall520 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the company’s Web site at www.recall.kbtinfo.com
Frankenstein Tumblers
How many: About 63,000
Description: Green, plastic, Frankenstein head-shaped tumblers.
Reason: Surface paint on the center of the eyes of some of the cups can contain high levels of lead,
Sold at: Dollar General stores nationwide in September 2007 for about $1.
Importer/Distributor: Dollar General Merchandising Inc., of Goodlettsville, Tenn.
Contact information: Contact Dollar General at (800) 678-9258 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.dollargeneral.com
Key Chains
How many: About 192,000
Description: Key chains with a coiled cord and a metal charm with one of the following engraved words: “wisdom”, “truth”, “believe”, “love”, “hope”, or “dream”. The key chains were sold on a cardboard tab with floral designs and the words “Metal Keyring” and “$1” on the front.
Reason: The key chains contain high levels of lead.
Sold at: Dollar General stores nationwide from June 2005 through August 2007 for about $1.
Importer/Distributor: Dollar General Merchandising Inc., of Goodlettsville, Tenn.
Contact information: Contact Dollar General at (800) 678-9258 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.dollargeneral.com
Children’s Toy Decorating Sets
How many: About 15,000
Description: These Totally Me! – Funky Room Décor Sets are designed to make various room décor projects and include a clock, clock movement, satin fabric, round box, door hanger, mirror, paper mirror frame, glitter glue, sticker sheet, foam shapes, sequins, seed beads, elastic cord, fabric flowers, and gem stones.
Reason: Surface paint on the back of the mirror contains excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: Toys “R” Us stores nationwide and toysrus.com from May 2007 through September 2007 for about $10.
Importer/Distributor: Toys “R” Us Inc., of Wayne, N.J.
Contact information: Contact Toys “R” Us toll-free at (800) TOYSRUS/869-7787 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.toysrus.com
Bookmarks and Journals
How many: About 150,000
Description: Various designs of bookmarks and journals from Antioch Publishing’s Signature Collection. The character-themed bookmarks and journals include a Winnie the Pooh design as well as floral themes.
Reason: Paint on the spiral metal bindings of the journals, clip of the bookmarks and the clear coating on the marquis bookmarks and bracelets contain excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: Book, card and gift stores nationwide from March 2005 through October 2007 for between $4 and $14.
Importer/Distributor: Antioch Publishing, of Yellow Springs, Ohio
Contact information: Contact Antioch Publishing at (800) 543-1515 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.antioch.com
UPDATE: On October 17, Antioch expanded this recall to include 200,000 clip-on bookmarks because of surface paint. The bookmarks were sold at book, card and gift stores nationwide from April 2003 through October 2007 for about $4.
Alpine Design Aluminum Water Bottles
How many: About 11,200
Description: Alpine Design aluminum water bottles sold at Sports Authority. The water bottles were sold in different colors and measure between six and 10 ½ inches tall. The water bottles are silver, blue, red, blue with pink flowers, red with the depiction of a mouse, or blue with the depiction of a zebra. “Alpine Design” is painted on the water bottle.
Reason: The surface paint on the water bottle contains excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: Sports Authority stores nationwide from April 2006 through September 2007 for between $5 and $8.
Importer/Distributor: Sports Authority, of Englewood, Colo.
Contact information: Contact Sports Authority at (800) 360-8721 any time, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.sportsauthority.com
I just found your blog - leave it to Consumer Reports to do such a great job of covering toy safety issues. These last recalls were particularly troubling because so many trusted brands were involved. This year, parents are really clamoring for natural, organic alternatives to the typical plastic, multi-part toys, so I was surprised to see Parents Magazine "Best Toys of 2007" promote the same-old, same-old traditional plastic-type toys with no mention of eco-friendly safe alternatives, like wood and organic cotton, which so far have not appeared on any recall lists! Keep up the good work! -- Lynn from Organicmania
I am puzzled about certain products--including an auto vacuun cleaner--that, in very small print, point out that the product is considered dangerous in California. I don't know where the problem lies, though I suspect the filter, which has an acrid odor (purchased at Rite-Aid drug store.
What is going on? I am so tired of the recalls! I mean here I am playing with my one month old and her favorite soft baby einstein blocks and now they are being recalled for lead paint!!!!! Maybe we should boycott all goods from China until they get their act together.
I can't believe that toys are sold without being tested and approved before our children have died or had irreparable damage. I don't know why I was so naive to think that we tested them before distribution, not years after. I think we have the cart before the horse and at such a high price.
what are we thinking making products in China?
Do any of these items actually have enough lead in them to harm someone? I have trouble believing that "Surface paint on the center of the eyes of some of the cups" has enough lead to be a danger to anyone. If I feel that some of these recalls are spurious, how am I supposed to believe any of them? If I do believe them, how can we be expected to wade through so many recalls to find ones relevant to our families? I would appreciate it if only recalls that are important were actually posted.
The influx of unsafe toys from China seems to continue unabated. When will our elected senators and representatives finally do something to curb this invasion of cheap(and cheaply made)products that are not only endangering our children and grandchildren, but also robbing our citizens of decent jobs? I say it's time to ban all of these shoddy Chinese products, or require the American manufacturers who insist on outsourcing their production to China to require all products to meet American standards.
I believe it would also be very beneficial to indicate where each product is manufactured in your safety warnings. Perhaps that would also prevent many other products from reaching unwary consumers more readily. It would also be a kick in the pants for manufacturers whereby we refuse to buy ANY products made in these particular countries.
I'm interested in buying a safe reusable water bottle, so that I can be environmentally friendly. Does anybody have suggestions on where to get the safest water bottle? People continue to say that plastic bottles are unsafe, and then there have been scares from water bottles with high amounts of lead.
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