Just in time for the start of the holiday shopping season, the Consumer Product Safety Commission today issued 10 recalls of items for children. Nine of the recalls are for products that pose a risk of lead exposure including six recalls, totaling almost 508,000 pieces, of children's jewelry. The CPSC notes that it was alerted to the lead-tainted jewelry by the New York State Attorney General’s Office. (According to the New York Times, the recalls were brought to the attorney general's notice by a state wildlife pathologist and his daughter.) Also recalled were 38,000 colored slipcovers for the popular Boppy pillow because the zippers on some contain high lead levels. On other Boppy covers, the zipper pull can break off and pose a choking hazard. Children's paint brushes and pencil cases were also recalled. The one non-lead item recalled was a "flashing" pacifier in which the nipple can become detached and become a choking hazard. The CPSC cautions parents to take the items away from children. A list of the recalls follows. Click on the title link for refund information and more photos.
Boppy slipcovers
How many: 38,000
Description: Slipcovers that pose a choking hazard are velvet and boa, intended for use with the Boppy Bare Naked nursing and support pillow. The slipcovers were sold in three color combinations in clear vinyl packages labeled Boppy Luxe. Slipcovers recalled due to lead paint on the zipper were sold in four colors in display boxes labeled Boppy Soothing.
Reason: The zipper pull on the slipcovers can break, posing a choking hazard to young children. In addition, paint on the zippers contains excess levels of lead.
Sold: Slipcovers recalled due to choking hazard were sold at discount department stores nationwide from July 2006 through September 2007 for about $16. Slipcovers recalled due to lead paint were sold at discount department stores nationwide from February 2007 through September 2007 for between $15 and $17.
Made in: China
Importer: The Boppy Company, of Golden, Colo.
Contact: The Boppy Company at (888) 713-3916 anytime or visit the firm’s Web site at www.boppy.com
Children's jewelry recalled because of lead
Rachel Rose and Distinctly Basics assorted children’s jewelry
How many: 205,000
Description: The jewelry was sold under the Rachel Rose and Distinctly Basics brands and includes key rings and pins with religious themes; key rings with "Mom" and cheerleader charms; bracelets with charms like handbags, flip flops, hearts, dresses, and flowers; silver-colored rings with designs or stones in a variety of colors; hoop earrings with decorations such as butterflies; and filigree and long drop earrings with stones in a variety of colors. A complete list of the recalled jewelry can be found at www.familydollar.com
Sold at: Family Dollar stores nationwide from January 2003 through August 2007 for between $.50 and $2.
Made in: China
Manufacturer: Family Dollar Stores, of Charlotte, N.C.
Contact: Family Dollar at (800) 547-0359 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.familydollar.com
Crystal Innovations jewelry
How many: 200,000
Description: The recalled items are various metal jewelry components. Check the recall notice for the SKU numbers, which can be located on the products’ packaging above the barcode.
Sold at: Michaels Stores nationwide from April 2006 to September 2007 for about $5.
Made in: China
Distributor: Pure Allure, of Oceanside, Calif
Contact: Pure Allure at (800) 536-6312 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday; visit the firm’s Web site at www.pureallure.com/recall or e-mail the firm at info@pureallure.com.
Decorative stretchable Aqua bracelets
How many: 45,000
Description: Bracelets are stretchable, with silver-colored square links and aqua-colored beads. SKU#5384706813 is printed on the packaging.
Sold at: Various dollar stores, liquidators and schools as part of fundraising, nationwide from September 2003 through April 2007 for between $1 and $12.
Made in: China
Importer: Cherrydale Fundraising, of Allentown, Pa.
Contact: Cherrydale Fundraising at (800) 333-2565 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.cherrydale.com
Sparkle City charm bracelets and tack pin sets
How many: 43,000
Description: The charm bracelets have silver-colored star and butterfly charms, and clear and pink beads that hang from a silver-colored chain. The tack pins are silver butterflies or stars with clear and pink beads.
Sold at: Big Lots stores nationwide from August 2005 through April 2007 for about $1.
Made in: China
Importer: Buy-Rite Designs Inc., of Freehold, NJ
Contact: Buy-Rite at (888) 777-7952 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.buyriteinc.com
Children’s metal necklaces and bracelets
How many: 10,400 (Top photo)
Description: The metal necklaces and bracelets have silver-colored charms. Some also have colored beads. “Awesome Boutique” or “Share the Love” is printed on some of the jewelry’s packaging. The jewelry includes a necklace with a metal flower-shaped charm that hangs from a pink cord, a metal heart charm bracelet, a metal heart angel charm bracelet with colored beads, a metal bracelet with four heart charms and ruby-colored beads, necklaces with painted hearts that hang from a cord, and necklaces with tiny purses in various colors.
Sold at: Various discount and dollar stores nationwide from January 2005 through June 2007 for about $1.
Made in: China
Manufacturer: Colossal Jewelry & Accessories Inc., of Maywood, N.J.
Contact: Colossal Jewelry & Accessories at (888) 808-5093 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or e-mail the firm at colosssaljewelry@comcast.net
La Femme NY children’s necklace and earring sets
How many: 4,500
Description: Necklace and earring sets have a silver metal chain and a round pendant with a light blue jewel and three jeweled dangling charms.
Sold at: Various dollar stores nationwide from October 2005 to April 2007 for about $1.
Made in: China
Manufacturer: La Femme NY 2 Inc., of Brooklyn, N.Y.
Contact: La Femme NY 2 Inc. at (866) 667-5369 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.lafemmeny.com or e-mail the firm at corp@lafemmeny.net
School supplies recalled for lead
Children’s pencil pouches
How many: 84,200
Description: “Stuff Keepers” pencil pouches and “Bear Pencil Pouches.” The “Stuff Keepers” pencil pouches are clear vinyl, measure 9 inches by 6 inches, and have a green, orange, pink or blue-colored zipper. Style number 63525 is printed on the packaging. The “Bear Pencil Pouches” have soft fabric with a stuffed bear face, and measure 9 inches by 3 inches. Style number 67221 is printed on the packaging.
Reason: The paint on the pencil pouches’ zipper pulls contains excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: School supply distributors in schools nationwide from September 1997 through October 2007 for between 50 cents and $2.
Made in: China
Distributor: Raymond Geddes & Co., of Baltimore, Md
Contact: Raymond Geddes & Co. at (800) 533-6273, Ext. 1124 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, visit the firm’s Web site at www.raymondgeddes.com/psa.html, or email the firm at consumeraffairs@raymondgeddes.com
Shaving paint brushes
How many: 20,000
Description: A set of six “shaving-style” brushes, which are about 4-inches long. The brushes’ handles are painted blue, purple, orange, yellow, lime green, and pink. The item number #SHVBRSH is printed on the product’s packaging. Brush sets with handles in brown, dark blue, red, green, blue, and black are not included in this recall. The recalled brushes were also included with the “BioColor Foam Paint Starter Kit” and “Colorations Foam Paint Starter Kit.”
Reason: Surface paint on the brush handles can contain excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: Discount School Supply’s catalog and Web site from May 2004 through August 2007 for about $5. The BioColor kits were sold from May 2004 through June 2006 for about $60. The Colorations kits were sold from July 2006 through August 2007 for about $60.
Made in: China
Importer: Discount School Supply, of Monterey, Calif.
Contact: Discount School Supply at (800) 293-9314 between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday; visit the firm’s Web site at www.discountschoolsupply.com or e-mail the firm at brushrecall@discountschoolsupply.com
Pacifiers a choking hazard
Flashing Pacifiers or 2-in-1 Flashing Pacifiers with Whistle necklaces
How many: 8,000
Description: Pacifier necklace has a 28-inch multicolored cord with a 3- inch plastic pacifier that comes in assorted colors. A hole at the tip of the nipple is used as a blow hole for the whistle. The pacifier handle operates as the on-off button for the flashing light on both pacifiers. “Flashing Pacifier” or “2-in-1 Flashing Pacifier with Whistle Necklace” is printed on the packaging of the pacifiers.
Reason: The nipple can detach from the base, posing a choking hazard to young children.
Sold at: Various retail stores nationwide during the month of June 2007 for about $5 per dozen.
Made in: China
Importer/Wholesaler: Sailing (U.S.) International Corp., of Hackensack, N.J.
Contact: Sailing (U.S.) International Corp. at (800) 643-6134 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.sailingusintl.com
I am so sick of picking up a toy for my son and seeing "Made in China" "Made on Mexico" "Made in anywhere but here"! It seems since all of this lead exposure, I am seeing less disclosure on packaging of its origin or disclosure on specs on websites. You dont know its made in China until you open it, undo all of those small ties around toys, turn it upside down and see that its made in anywhere but the USA! Vermont has childrens toys made by Vermonters. I am not a Vermonter, but I will invest in America
Solutions to these problems are very simple. Buy American. Boycott all products made by outsourced low wage slave labor and address the problem of consumer addiction.
The problem is not offshore manufacturing. The many recalls of US made products show how true that is. The solution is appropriate regulation of the companies which are NOT safety testing their products. As long as a laissez-faire government lets industry do pretty much as it pleases, we will honor profit over safety. Government should do for the people (only) what the people cannot do for themselves. This is one glaring example where we have dropped the ball.
There's a nice web site, stillmadeinusa.com, with links to websites where you can find American-made products, though it's rather depressing to see how many common items you *can't* find anywhere on the list.
I don't understand why our country is still importing products that contain lead - especially CHILDREN's toys, etc. which can have a much more negative effect than that on adults. Doesn't our country care about it's children? How much time can a young mother take to check all the websites to make certain that the toys she wants for her child is O.K.? I'm shocked that this is continuing to happen in spite of all the recalls.
I am so in agreement with "Buy American", the only problem is that there is so little made in America. Something needs to be done. The Dollar stores were great,not anymore, AND I find the problem whatever store I go in. HELP!
I, too, am dismayed at not feeling safe in buying toys made in CHINA for my grandchildren due to unsafe lead levels.
Yesterday, I thought I was safe buying a book, "My First Treasury Mother Goose", Publications International, Ltd., Copyright 2006, ISBN-13:978-1-4127-6073-7
When I got home to wrap it for Christmas for my 3 month-old Grandson (it is a board book), I noticed it is manufactured in CHINA and made of POLYURETHANE FOAM!!!! What happened to PAPER BOOKS!!!!
How can I find out if this book is safe for a child (or adult) to handle and little ones who are likely to put the book in their mouths?
I understand the reason much of our manufacturing went overseas is due to TAX CODE including profit/income laws and import/export tax laws which make it profitable for companies to go overseas. For that, you can thank your Congressmen and women, the ones whom most people vote in over and over again.
If one comnpany goes overseas/cuts costs and others dont' do similar, then they will go out of business. Change the profit/revenue/tax laws and especially the TARIFF and import/export laws so that is is LESS profitable to go overseas, and the companies might be persuaded to come home. Congress people pass laws and they rarely read the law, just the summary. An acquaintnace in a big corporation told me about this many years ago, predicting the situation we're in today.
I too would love to buy things made in the USA, if only I knew where to look for these items. Pauline, thanks for the link to stillmadeinusa.com . Are there other web sites that could link one to American made products? I'll even pay a bit more if I know the toy, shirt, or widgit is made by someone trying to make a living for their family here in the states.
I was delighted to recently discover Community Playthings, an excellent company here in the US that manufactures high quality wooden toys for children. We purchased a wooden block set for our two children. The blocks are beautifully crafted, sanded and have no finish or paint on them. The kids love them and they are an excellent learning tool. (I have no financial interest in this company, I just share the concerns of the writers above who want children to be safe!)
I have emailed every state and federal government employee that I can about the standards of products imported. It is depressing if you try to look for things made in USA... because very little is, but I shop online and would like all items to list WHERE they are imported from.. not just imported. Please join me in encouraging our neighbors to boycott products made in China, supporting USA made prodocts, and passing legislation that all labels contain info as to where ALL ingredients and parts were made.
When the first recalls were announced about toys made in China I decided to go through my kids toy boxes and pull out any toy that was stamped "Made in China". By the time I was done, their toy boxes were nearly empty except for a few toys made in Mexico and a couple of "antique toys". The antique toys were handed down from older cousins. These toys were, you guessed it, MADE IN USA. What a shame. Why is there not more outrage about this. If it had been announced 30 years ago that major toymakers in this country were POISONING our children in the name of profit, I really don't think it would be backpage news. Wake up people!!!
MADE IN CHINA! Imagine my shock when I got a tiffany lamp for Christmas, and while looking for the model number I got a bigger shock! I saw on the bottom of the lamp Made in China. I love the lamp and the person that gave it to me but I don't feel safe having it in a room my grandchildren spend so much time in. I am sure it is loaded with lead. What a discrace to the daletiffany name.
We're all to blame: 1) governments for placing business profits over consumer safety, 2) consumers who demand lower prices at their expense (WalMart trends), 3) companies who do not audit their products & provide adequate quality controls over goods manufactured outside the country or within the U.S. & Canada in order to fatten their margins. It's time for tough enforcement & audits to prevent 'garbage' that comes into our countries!
I was outraged when I shopped for gifts for my great grandchildren. All the clothing and toys were marked made in China, India, Taiwan etc. I could not find anything made in USA. Needless to say, I did not purchase any of the items. We need more MADE IN USA products!
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