More toys and jewelry recalled due to lead

The Consumer Product Safety Commission today recalled two types of children's jewelry, a puppet theater and four groups of toys, including more Thomas and Friends railway cars and accessories because the items contain lead. Consumers are advised to stop using the playthings immediately and remove them from children. The action follows a spate of recalls of toys and jewelry this summer and safety experts caution that more are to come. Items from six of the recalls were made in China and items from the seventh, Target's toy gardening tools and lawn chairs, were made in Taiwan. The importer/distributor of the Thomas toys, RC2 Corp., of Oak Brook, Ill., also had a smaller recall of toy knights. The maker of a pendant necklace, Rhode Island Novelty, of Cumberland, R.I., has been involved in earlier jewelry recalls. The second jewelry recall, by TOBY N.Y.C., expands a recall made last month. In all, more than 601,000 items were recalled. No injuries have been reported. Details on today's recalls follow. Click the title links for photos and refund information.

Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway Toys
How many: About 200,000 (1.5 million other Thomas and Friends railway toys were recalled on June 13.)
Description: This recall involves an all-black cargo car,  a "Toad" vehicle, an olive green "Sodor" cargo box and all-green maple tree top and signal base accessories.
Reason: Surface paints on the toys can contain excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: Toy stores and various retailers nationwide from March 2003 through September 2007 for between $10 and $40.
Importer/Distributor: RC2 Corp., of Oak Brook, Ill.
Contact information: For additional information, contact RC2 toll-free at (866) 725-4407 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at http://recalls.rc2.com

Britain’s “Knights of the Sword” Series Toys
How many: About 800
Description: The three recalled silver knight toys are mounted on red horses and sold individually in see-through blister cards. “Britain's” and “Knights of the Sword” are printed on the top of the card in the packaging. The recalled toys include a mounted silver knight with an ax; a mounted silver knight with two hands on a raised weapon; and a mounted silver knight with a lance.
Reason: Surface paints on the toy knights contain excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: Specialty toy stores nationwide from April 2004 through March 2006 for about $8.
Importer/Distributor: RC2 Corp., of Oak Brook, Ill.
Contact information: For additional information, contact RC2 toll-free at (866) 725-4407 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at http://recalls.rc2.com

Happy Giddy Gardening Tools and Children’s Sunny Patch Chairs
How many: About 350,000
Description: The multi-colored children’s Sunny Patch chairs have a giraffe, monkey, and elephant on the back. The multi-colored Giddy Gardening tools include rakes, hoes, trowels and brooms with flowers or faces on the handles.
Reason: The surface paint on the recalled gardening tools and chairs contains excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: Target stores nationwide from August 2006 through August 2007 for between $3 and $10.
Importer: Target, of Minneapolis, Minn.
Contact information: For additional information, contact Target at (800) 440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 pm. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.target.com

Floor Puppet Theaters
How many: About 10,000
Description: The recalled puppet theater has a chalkboard surface on the front and colored side panels. The puppet theater is 35 inches long, 14 inches wide and  52 inches high.
Reason: Surface paints on the wooden panels contain excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: Specialty toy stores, gift shops, catalogs and Web sites nationwide from June 2006 through August 2007 for about $90.
Manufacturer: Guidecraft Inc., of Englewood, N.J.
Contact information: For additional information, contact Guidecraft toll-free at (888) 824-1308 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.guidecraft.com

UPDATE: On October 17, Guidecraft recalled  5,400 table-top puppet theaters, also because of lead in surface paint. The smaller theaters were sold in the same time period for $35.

Children’s Spinning Wheel-Metal Necklaces
How many: About 850
Description: A 30-inch-long link necklace with a spinning wheel pendant. The wheel pendant, designed to resemble a car’s spinning tire rim, has rhinestones attached to the front, a silver base and measures 2 ¾-inches in diameter. The item has a clear plastic hang tag with a UPC code of 0 97138 68502 5.
Reason: The clasp on the necklace contains high levels of lead.
Sold at: Family entertainment centers, redemption centers, and small discount stores nationwide and at www.rinovelty.com from November 2006 through May 2007 for about $2.
Manufacturer: Rhode Island Novelty, of Cumberland, R.I.
Contact information: For additional information, contact Rhode Island Novelty at (800) 528-5599 between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.rinovelty.com

TOBY & ME Jewelry Sets
How many: About 23,500 (about 14,000 jewelry sets were recalled on August 22, 2007)
Description: The three jewelry sets include: a princess pink and clear crystal bead necklace and bracelet set with a painted metallic crown pendant; a pink and white pearl necklace and bracelet set with a painted metallic poodle pendant; and a pink pearl necklace, earrings and ring set. All sets are sold in a pink gift box with “TOBY & ME” printed on the front and “TOBY & ME” hangtags attached to the packaging.
Reason: The metal jewelry sets contain high levels of lead.
Sold at: T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and A.J.Wright from August 2006 through May 2007 for about $8.
Importer: TOBY N.Y.C., of New York, N.Y.
Contact information: For additional information, contact TOBY N.Y.C. toll-free at (866) 235-0588 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or email the firm at info@tobynyc.com.

Children’s Toy Rake
How many: About 16,000
Description: The children’s rake has a green handle with a yellow duck head attached. The rake has seven purple tines, also known as teeth andis about 24 inches long. “Robbie Ducky Garden Collection Rake” is printed on a tag attached to the handle.
Reason: Surface paint on the handle of the rake can contain excessive levels of lead.
Sold at: Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores nationwide from January 2007 through September 2007 for about $7.
Importer: Jo-Ann Stores Inc., of Hudson, Ohio
Contact information: For additional information, contact Jo-Ann Stores Inc. toll-free at (888) 739-4120, option 7, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email the firm at guest.services@jo-annstores.com, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.joann.com.

Comments

[phyllis moffitt]

I am looking for the list of lipstick recalls

[Rita]

While I should be used to all the recent recalls on children's toys, this latest one by Mattel on certain Thomas the Tank Engines really got to me. In the original recall in June, we had to send back one of our engines. As compensation, Mattel sent us a replacement, as well as an additional special gift. Imagine my surprise today when I discovered that the special gift is now being recalled due to elevated levels of lead. They took a lead risk out of my son's hands, just to replace it with another lead risk. And yet, they still are offering assurances that their toys are safe, and I am going to believe them at this point???