Lead-tainted jewelry recalls cataloged by Consumer Reports

Since 2003, nearly 170 million pieces of children's jewelry have been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission because the items contain high levels of lead.  There have been more than 40 recalls during that time period and new recalls are announced every few weeks. Collectively, lead-laden jewelry has amounted to the largest product recall in CPSC history. 

Most of the recalled jewelry involves necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings and other baubles that were purchased in vending machines or in discount and dollar stores –- places where recall notices are not generally seen.  Since the recall notices are hard to find, we think few parents are aware of the dangers lurking in their children’s jewelry boxes.

Lead is sometimes used as a low cost way of giving jewelry heft or added to paint coating the jewelry.  Lead-based jewelry is often covered by a thin coating of shiny material.  But if children mouth the jewelry, as we’ve seen many children do, they can ingest some of the lead, increasing their blood lead levels over time. Children are especially vulnerable to the toxic effects of lead, which have been linked to brain damage, and developmental and learning disorders.  Worse, if they swallow the jewelry, they can suffer acute lead poisoning, which can be fatal.  Such was the fate of a 4-year-old Minneapolis child who died last year after swallowing a small piece of a Reebok charm bracelet that was later found to contain 99 percent lead.

We have supported a proposed rulemaking by the CPSC to effectively ban lead in jewelry and urged the agency to further strengthen limits on lead in other consumer products.  Until such rules are passed and enforced, we recommend that you not buy toy jewelry made of metal for your children.  If you do have toy jewelry, particularly if it appears metallic, check to see if it has been recalled.

We are making that task easier with a new online tool. To identify the tainted items, we are featuring a photo gallery  of pieces of children's jewelry recalled by the CPSC since the fall of 2003 (some of which was sold much earlier) with information on where and when it was sold and with links to the original recall notices.  If you recognize any of the pieces in our photo gallery take the item away from your child immediately. Then click on the recall notice and take the appropriate action.