Professor Jeffrey Weidenhamer: Lessons learned about lead

When the Consumer Product Safety Commission recently recalled a lead-laden key chain sold at Wal-Mart for three years, Ashland University Professor Jeffrey Weidenhamer was pleased but puzzled. Pleased that the CPSC had acted to remove the key chain from the market but puzzled that it had taken them so long to do so. After all, Weidenhamer had found high lead levels in a similar key chain when he tested it in 2006 and reported his results to the CPSC that December. What prompted the April recall was not Weidenhamer's testing but reports that a nine-month-old child who had mouthed one had elevated levels of lead in her blood.

"You shouldn't have to wait a year or 16 months to recall a product,"  Weidenhamer told a reporter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Until recently, Weidenhamer’s research specialty had been chemical compounds produced by plants. Now he is more widely known for the research that he and his students at the Ohio college have done on lead in children’s toys. His findings may have resulted in at least 11 recalls by the Consumer Product Safety Commission involving more than 1.4 million individual items. That’s an impressive track record—although Weidenhamer is hesitant about touting it. As he wrote in Ashland's alumni magazine, “It is unfortunate that someone can become well known for drawing attention to lead contamination issues. It certainly would be far better for the kids if there were no story at all about lead contamination in these products.”

Weidenhamer’s fame all started with a chemistry class, Lead and Civilization, that he taught for non-majors and that focused on the chemistry and toxicity of lead. Then in the spring semester of 2006, he learned that a four-year-old Minnesota boy had died of lead poisoning after swallowing a lead-laden charm given away with a pair of shoes by Reebok International. (Earlier this year, Reebok agreed to pay a record $1 million penalty for distributing the charm bracelet).

Knowing that the analysis of metal samples for lead was not too involved, Weidenhamer thought his class would be able to conduct tests in the lab to see if similar items were on store shelves in his Ohio city. “I was not prepared for what my students found,” he said. “In the first set of 20 inexpensive jewelry items, 14 were heavily leaded, in two cases as high as 100 percent lead by weight.” CPSC guidelines for lead in children’s jewelry items sets a maximum level of 0.06 percent lead by weight.

Weidenhamer and his students have done repeated testing since the spring of 2006, including some tests of Halloween toys completed at the request of Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown.  Weidenhamer says he tested more than 50 different items and found lead contamination in six of them, including plastic teeth. That, he says “seemed like the worst since they were clearly designed to go into a child’s mouth.” (The teeth were recalled by the CPSC.)

This spring, Weidenhamer found lead in several Easter products, two of which were recalled by the CPSC the Friday before Easter.  “It is a surprise that after all the publicity about toy recalls of last year ... you can still find items on the shelves with lead in them.” He said he will continue to test products. “Hopefully by Halloween this year, we won’t be finding lead in paint in these products,” he said. “It shouldn’t be remotely possible for me or anyone to go out to American stores and pull products from shelves, test them and find levels of lead in them.”

Let's hope he's right but as long as it is possible, we are thankful for Weidenhamer’s efforts. And for that, he becomes one of our safety crusaders.

CPSC recalls related to complaints filed by Weidenhamer

• 86,400 children's "Ultra Gear" bracelets (DM Merchandising) Feb. 7, 2007
• 115,000 "Claudia Jublot" children's rings (Big Lots) Feb. 23, 2007
• 396,000 metal key chains (Dollar General) April 3, 2007
• 63,000 Frankenstein tumblers (Dollar General) Oct. 4, 2007
• 55,000 Halloween skull pails (Albert’s) Oct. 17, 2007
• 142,000 purple Halloween pails with witch decorations (Family Dollar Store) Oct. 25, 2007
• 43,000 “Ugly teeth” party favors (Amscan Inc.) Oct. 31, 2007
• 10,000 Halloween-themed baskets (Hobby Lobby) Nov. 16, 2007
• 205,000 pieces assorted Rachel Rose jewelry (Family Dollar Store) Nov. 21, 2007
• 13,000 camouflage eggs and spinning egg top toys (Hobby Lobby) Mar. 21, 2008
• 310,000 seasonal writing pads (Michaels Stores)

First the toys, now the toy bin

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall Thursday of 84,000 children’s storage bins. The pastel pink or lime green paint on the bins has excessive levels of lead, which violates the federal lead-paint standard. The bins were sold at Lowe’s from March 2007 through February 2008.

The storage bins are wooden with scalloped edges and were sold in pastel colors. Only the pink (item number 226781) and green (item number 226782) bins have been recalled. If you own one, the CPSC advises that you take it away from children immediately. You can return it to Lowe’s for a full refund. For more information, contact the importer, L G Sourcing, at (866) 493-6563 or go to www.Lowes.com.

No injuries have been reported from this product, but the potential dangers of lead exposure include developmental and learning disorders.

While you are examining your toy box, also take a look at the toys inside and check to see if any have been recalled lately. Recalls covered on this blog include not only toys that contain lead, but those that pose a choking hazard and others that contain tiny magnets that can cause intestinal damage if swallowed.

Nintendo recalls 71,000 character pins that violate lead standard

Nintendo has recalled 12 lapel pins of characters from its popular video games because the metal pins contain high levels of lead. The 71,000 pins were sold at two Nintendo stores—in New York, NY and Redmond, WA—or given away to employees at electronics and game stores nationwide.

The lapel pins vary in size from 1- to 2-inches in height and portray the characters Diddy Kong, Donkey Kong, Kirby, Mario, Mario Kart, Pikachu, Princess Peach, Samus, Starfox, Waluigi and Wario. They were sold individually between April 2004 and November 2007 for between $1.50 and $4. Mario, Princess Peach and Samus were also sold as a set. In that same period, the recalled lapel pins were distributed as promotions to employees at electronics and game stores around the country.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which announced the recall, advised consumers to immediately stop wearing the lapel pins and to contact Nintendo to receive a free replacement pin by calling (800) 431-0971 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visiting the firm’s Web site www.nintendo.com. Images of all 12 pins can be found on both the CPSC and Nintendo Web sites.

Child's elevated lead level prompts recall of key chain sold at Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart recalled 12,000 charm key chains today after reports that a nine-month-old child who had mouthed one had elevated levels of lead in her blood. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan alerted the Consumer Product Safety Commission to the problem after the key chain was discovered during an inspection of the afflicted child's home. The CPSC cautions parents to take the key chains away from children.

“There were 34 recalls of costume and children’s jewelry in 2007 for lead. This child’s story is a very real wake up call about the danger that costume jewelry can pose for children,” Attorney General Madigan said. “The consequences of children mouthing this jewelry or potentially swallowing small pieces of the jewelry can be devastating.”

This is not the first time Madigan has stepped in to get the lead out. In December, her office caused the recall in Illinois of a red Fisher-Price toy blood pressure cuff that was discovered to contain lead by testing conducted by Consumer Reports. Two weeks later her office caused the recall in Illinois of a second Fisher-Price toy blood pressure cuff that also contained lead. Madigan's office enforces the Illinois Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, which prohibits the sale of toys, clothing, jewelry or any other product intended for use by children that contain lead in excess of 600 parts per million. The Act is among the strongest lead laws in the country.

Keys and babies are not a safe combination. In our December story, "New worries over lead," we reported that brass keys can be another source of potential lead exposure, as Katrina Barron of South Bend, Ind., found. When her daughter Aurora's blood test revealed an elevated blood lead level of 11 micrograms per deciliter in July 2007, a local health department investigation identified Katrina's house and office keys as one potential source of exposure.

The Wal-Mart recall involves 12,000 "Hip charm" key chains that feature such charms as a button, clover, leaf, heart and sand dollar hanging from a silver-colored chain (see photo). The UPC number 31568 11017 is printed on the packaging. The key chains were sold at Wal-Mart for the past three years, beginning in April 2005, for six dollars. Wal-Mart is offering a refund to consumers who return the item to one of its stores. For more information, contact Wal-Mart at (800) 925-6278 or visit the company's Web site www.walmartstores.com.

More on lead in children's jewlery
Since 2003, nearly 170 million pieces of children's jewelry have been recalled by the CPSC because the items contain high levels of lead. To see if your child owns any of this jewelry, view our photo gallery of recalled items or visit the CPSC's Web site and check recalls.

Recall alert: CPSC pulls lead-tainted teeth and pens

Plastic "hillbilly" teeth and pens with a seasonal theme were recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission Thursday as part of the agency's ongoing effort to rid the marketplace of products that violate the lead paint standard. Most alarming, because ingesting lead has been linked to developmental and learning disorders, was the recall of 26,000 sets of play teeth in which the gray surface paint was lead-tainted.  The recall was similar to one made last fall of Halloween "ugly" teeth.  More than 310,000 pens sold at Michaels Stores were also recalled. Here are the details:

Funtastic Hillbilly Teeth
How many:  26,000
Description: This recall involves a two-pack of fake Hillbilly Teeth with item # 2657. The item number is printed on the packaging. The gums are brown and the teeth are yellow.
Sold at: Grocery, drug, convenience and mass retailers nationwide from March 2005 through March 2008 for about $2.
What to do: Consumers should immediately take the recalled toy away from children and contact Funtastic for information on receiving a refund by calling (800) 434-5207 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visiting the company’s Web site at www.funtastictoy.com.

Michaels seasonal writing pens
How many: 310,000
Description: The pens were sold individually as one of a series of four including Flower Writer, Christmas Writer, Easter Writer and Spooky Writer. Each pen has themed decorations including flowers, Christmas, Easter and Halloween ornamentation.
Sold exclusively at: Michaels retail stores nationwide from August 2007 through March 2008 for about $1.
What to do: Consumers should stop using the recalled pens immediately and return them to any Michaels store to receive a refund. For additional information, contact Michaels’ customer service at (800) 642-4235 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.michaels.com.

Holiday recall: Check your Easter baskets

In the better late than never department, the Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced a recall of two different Easter items because they violate the lead paint standard.

The toys—made in China and sold by Hobby Lobby Stores—are Camouflage Easter Eggs and Easter Spinning Egg Tops. The CPSC says about 13,000 toys are affected. Lead exposure can result from mouthing the eggs or handling the eggs and putting contaminated fingers in the mouth. And as we've said before, lead poisoning has been linked to developmental and learning disorders. More than 300,000 children in the U.S. have lead levels high enough to cause irreversible damage, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Children six and under are most affected. Because lead accumulates in the body; the only way to reduce the risk is to minimize exposure.

The eggs were sold at Hobby Lobby Stores nationwide from January through this month.  The camouflage egg sold for about $2.50 and the spinning top sold for $2. The CPSC advises parents to immediately take the recalled toys away from children and contact Hobby Lobby  (800-326-7931) to receive a $3 exchange card that can be used toward other Hobby Lobby products.

Note to Easter Bunny helpers: This recall is a good reminder to review any toys destined for Easter baskets to make sure they do not include the recalled goods, do not have sharp edges and are not inappropriate for the age of the child, such as small items that could be choking hazards for children under three. Among those are the hollow chocolate Kinder Surprise eggs we wrote about recently that contain small toys.

News accounts credit the latest recall to a chemistry profressor at Ashland University in Ohio. Jeffrey D. Weidenhamer, who has previously raised warning flags about toxic lead levels in toys and children's jewelry, tested numerous Easter items and found excessive lead levels (above 0.06 parts per million) in several toys. Sadly, this is just one more sign that lead in children's playthings continues to be a serious problem.

Senate passes CPSC Reform Act

The Senate took strong steps on Thursday to bolster the safety of millions of products sold in the U.S., particularly goods used by children. By a huge margin—79 to 13—the Senate approved a measure not only to strengthen the Consumer Product Safety Commission with more funds and enforcement clout but also to tighten the safety rules governing toys. Specifically, the approved bill lowers lead levels in all children's toys and also requires third-party pre-market testing for children's products. For all products, the measure creates a public database of complaints so that information on unsafe products can be shared more quickly.

The CPSC Reform Act of 2008, as the measure is called, was developed in response to a burgeoning number of recalls and safety issues that have overwhelmed the understaffed and underfunded safety agency over the past year. It was sponsored by a bi-partisan group of senators including Mark Pryor (D-AR), Ted Stevens (R-AK),  Daniel Inouye (D-HI) and Susan Collins (R-ME).

“The CPSC is crippled under budget restraints, mounting imports and thousands of new products entering the marketplace. As a result, we’ve seen endless recalls and unnecessary deaths and injuries,” said Senator Pryor in a press release. “My legislation allows parents and the CPSC to fight back against the tide of dangerous toys and products. It provides new safety safeguards that emphasize resources, accountability, disclosure and testing—from the factory floor to the store shelves.”

Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, was among the many advocacy groups that supported the bill, which builds on the reforms contained in a House bill passed in December. “After 2007 became the Year of the Recall, consumers’ confidence in our product safety system was dashed,” said Ami Gadhia, Policy Counsel for Consumers Union. “In today’s climate of partisan politics, it is great to see the Senate come together to protect children and consumers in this global marketplace."

The groups supporting the Senate action acknowledge the importance of marrying the strong reforms of that bill with key provisions in the House product safety bill.  In particular, the groups point to the Senate’s provisions addressing the public database, state attorneys general enforcement and whistleblower protections.  The groups will urge conferees to keep these provisions, while also adopting a critical House measure that ensures product testing of more children’s products by defining such products as those designed for children under 12 years of age.  The Senate bill covers products designed for children under seven years of age. 

Congress faults Mattel on failure to recall toy cuff

Nearly five dozen congressmen this week fired off a letter to the chairman of Mattel, which owns Fisher-Price, asking the company to immediately withdraw from sale toy medical kits including blood pressure cuffs that have tested high for lead. So far, Mattel has only pulled its toy blood pressure cuffs—a red one and a green one—from sale in Illinois because that state’s law limits lead in all children's products, whatever the material, to 600 parts per million.

As you may have read here earlier, our December issue featured an investigation,“New worries over lead,” in which we reported finding high lead levels when we tested samples of a red Fisher-Price toy blood pressure cuff. As a result, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan conducted her own investigation and the product (contained in the Fisher-Price Medical Kit) was pulled from store shelves in the state. Less than two weeks later, the attorney general announced a similar problem—and recall—with a green blood-pressure cuff that was part of another Fisher-Price product, the Sesame Street Giggle toy medical kit.

Mattel has said that the levels of lead, while higher than anticipated, are "fully compliant" with all federal regulations and thus do not merit a national recall.

But the congressmen, led by Reps. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), said the company needs to be more proactive and pull the product nationwide. “If this product is too dangerous for the children of Illinois, it is too dangerous for children in the rest of this country,” the letter said.

Mattel has said that over 70 percent of the two medical kits have been returned to the company, a return rate significantly higher than ordinary recalls. However, that figure includes returns from large retailers, and consumers who have the products in their home typically have a lower response rate than retailers. Mattel is offering a replacement part for families who already own the cuffs; consumers can call Fisher-Price at (800)-298-0638.

We look forward to hearing Mattel's response to Congress.

Will fines follow last year's record recalls?

In the last three months of 2007, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued 167 recalls, according to the Product Safety Letter, an independent newsletter that tracks product-safety issues. That’s almost 50 percent higher than the same period a year earlier and more than double the number issued the year before that. Many of those recalls were for toys that violated the lead-paint ban.

We may have turned the page on 2007, but many of last year's recalls remain fresh in the minds of CPSC officials. The agency is now investigating whether any companies should be fined for those safety breaches. As CPSC’s spokeswoman Julie Vallese told us, “It is unlikely that manufacturers will be getting off scot-free for violating the lead-paint ban.” 

It will be interesting to see just how far the CPSC goes in “punishing” the manufacturers that repeatedly violated regulations. The agency has the power to impose financial penalties on companies that violate mandatory safety standards, such as lead paint regulations, but the agency’s track record hasn't been great for levying those fines. In the relatively few instances over the past few years when the agency has fined firms, it has issued civil penalties based on a single reason: failure to report possible defects in a timely manner. Last month, for example, HSN LP (previously known as Home Shopping Network), agreed to pay a civil penalty of $875,000 to settle allegations that the company failed to report in a timely manner serious injuries and hazards with the Welbilt Electronic Pressure Cookers. 

More than 25 million children’s toys were recalled in 2007. Some of those recalls were for lead paint, toxic chemicals, and other hazards for which there are mandatory standards in place; other recalls involved toys that were defective. But last year Fisher-Price was the only toy company to be assessed civil penalties. Even then, the fine was just $975,000 for failing to report to the CPSC injuries associated with a defective toy (Little People Animal Sounds Farm) uncovered years ago, not for the violation.

The Commission usually doesn't issue fines for the safety violation itself because the burden of proof is far higher and more procedurally complicated than it is for issuing recalls. And with limited resources, agency representatives say it has preferred to spend its time, money and staff on preventative and corrective actions such as product recalls.

We at Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, are well aware of the agency’s current limited resources and have been pushing Congress hard to pass the legislation necessary to boost the CPSC's budget and authority. But we think the agency should consider using some of its valuable resources right now to more aggressively pursue companies that violate mandatory safety standards. And later on, when the CPSC has more resources at its disposal and the authority to levy higher fines, we hope it will have the courage to slap some meaningful fines on companies for violating safety standards—not just violating the reporting rules—so that all companies will be more vigilant in producing quality, defect-free goods in the first place.

Manufacturers of unsafe products are also facing another type of penalty in the form of class-action lawsuits. Last week, RC2 Corporation, the maker of Thomas the Tank Engine, agreed to a proposed settlement valued at approximately $30 million to settle a nationwide class-action lawsuit representing families that purchased lead-laden toy trains. The agreement also includes toy exchanges and refund programs. Other similar actions may follow. And that could become a strong incentive for manufacturers to ramp up their product safety assurance practices.

We’d  like to hear your thoughts on this matter. Do you think civil penalties should be levied against those companies that brought all those toys with lead paint to the market? Or do you think the bad publicity and threat of lawsuits many of these companies faced is sufficient?  Please post your comments below.

Major retailers make several post-holiday recalls

Holiday gifts including a popular board game, a play stove and decorative candles were recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission today for various hazards. About 17,000 "My First Kenmore" pink play stoves were recalled by Sears and Kmart after a child was bruised when a stove tipped over. Cranium recalled 38,000 of its widely-sold Cadoo board games because the paint on the die contains lead. And 185,000 decorative candles were recalled by Pottery Barn after reports that gold paint on the outside of the candles had ignited on at least two occasions.

My First Kenmore stove
According to the CPSC's announcement, a metal bracket connecting the door to the stove can cause the stove to tip over when the door is opened. To stabilize the stove, parents are advised to remove the bracket. A diagram that details how to do so is featured on the Sears Web site. The stoves, which are almost 33-inches tall, were sold at Sears and Kmart nationwide from September 2007 through November 2007 for about $100. For additional information, contact Sears/Kmart at (800) 659-7026 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Monday through Saturday, or visit either www.sears.com or www.kmart.com.

Cranium Cadoo board game
Cadoo board games with lot numbers 2007195 through 2007244 are included in this recall because the die violates lead paint standards. The seven digit lot number is printed under the plastic tray on the bottom half of the box. The games were sold at Fred Meyer, Kmart, Shopko, Wal-Mart and specialty game stores nationwide between October 2007 through January 2008 for about $20.

Cranium is asking consumers to immediately dispose of the die and to contact the company to get a free replacement. For additional information, contact Cranium at (877) 272- 6486 between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.cranium.com.

Pottery Barn decorative candles
This recall involves egg-shaped and large and small round candles sold in three sizes because the exterior paint is a fire hazard. The candles were sold in green, red and white with gold glitter and leaf designs at Pottery Barn stores from September 2007 through December 2007 for between $10 and $20. Consumers should stop using the candles and return them to any Pottery Barn store for a full refund. For additional information, contact Pottery Barn toll-free at (888) 922-9245 between 7 a.m. and 12 a.m. ET Monday through Sunday, or visit the company’s Web site at www.potterybarn.com.

Other recent recalls

• 1,300 Wick & Petal jar candles due to fire hazard
• 600 photo frames sold at Babies R Us for lead paint violation
• 5,400 toy wrestler action figures sold at dollar stores for lead paint violation
• 60,000 Kash N' Gold Tinker Bell lamps for lead paint violation

New laws in two states ban hazardous toys

We want to take a moment to highlight a couple of new state laws enacted in the past few weeks that we think are good steps forward for product safety.

Earlier this month, New Jersey governor Jon Corzine signed a law banning yo-yo balls, those liquid filled rubber balls attached to a rubbery sticky cord. One of the chief proponents of the law was New Jersey mother Tina Casadei-Alleruzzo whose 4-year-old daughter was nearly strangled by the cord in 2003.  New Jersey follows Illinois in banning the yo-yo ball, a result of vigorous lobbying by Illinois resident Lisa Lipin whose 5-year-old son was injured when a yo-yo ball cord wrapped around his neck in 2003. Lipin and Casadei-Alleruzzo are seeking similar laws in other states, including New York and Wisconsin.

Last month, Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm signed into law a measure barring the sale and manufacture of lead-based toys and other consumer products designed for children. Specifically the law bans toys with lead levels in excess of 600 parts per million as well as the use of lead in any children’s jewelry or lunch boxes. Here again, Michigan follows the lead of Illinois in banning toys that have more than 600 parts per million in lead.

We applaud the states for taking such steps forward. But at the same time, we’re dismayed that it has come to this with states forced to take action in the absence of federal regulations.

Ward and Montana Stone: Father-daughter safety sleuthing team

Genetics may help explain why 11-year-old Montana Stone became so interested in what was in her jewelry box.

Montana’s mother is a biology teacher who, according to Montana, frequently cautioned her children about going to old houses because of lead paint hazards. Montana’s father is a leading wildlife pathologist for New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation who developed a lead testing process to determine if animals had been killed by bullets illegally when hunters were claiming they had used only a bow and arrow.

So it’s really not hard to understand why Montana started wondering earlier this year if the favorite items in her jewelry box contained lead. “There were a lot of people just talking about lead in jewelry and I started wondering if there's lead in [mine],” Montana recalled in a recent telephone interview.

Her curiosity was all that her father needed to launch a full-scale testing of children’s jewelry. Together, Montana and her dad went to stores near their home in Albany and bought dozens of pieces of children’s jewelry. “We bought about 75 pieces and tested into the night,” at Stone’s office, the elder Stone said. “I would hand a piece to him and he would test it,” Montana added. (Don’t worry, both wore surgical gloves so they wouldn’t get exposed to any lead). What they found was distressing: “We found lots and lots of lead, far more than half” of the pieces they purchased, Ward Stone said. And some of those pieces had very high levels of lead.

The father-daughter team then bought more items, including metal beads at Michaels Stores, where Montana buys a lot of arts and crafts items. Those items also had high levels of lead.

Disturbed by the findings, Ward Stone took his results to the office of New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. The staff conducted another round of tests resulting in both a nationwide recall of more than 500,000 pieces of jewelry as well as a settlement with 12 companies, including the national chains of Michaels and Big Lots, in which they promised to stop selling lead-tainted items in their stores.

Father Stone gives all the credit to his daughter. “If it had not been for her, Dad would not have done what he did”—or continues to do. Both Montana and her dad are still buying and testing jewelry. And they’ve expanded their studies to include plates and mugs as well. The results continue to be disturbing; much of the dishware has been coated with lead paint, Stone reports.

Certainly, both Montana and Ward Stone deserve to be added to our list of Safety Crusaders for their curiosity, persistence, diligence—and results.

If you know of any safety crusaders who should be added to our list, please let us know.

A banner year for product safety

We can’t remember a year when product safety garnered so much public attention.  Consumer confidence was shaken as we saw recall after recall on toys, tires, toothpaste, and more. We dubbed 2007 “The Year of the Recall.”

Here are some of the more prominent safety recalls and related issues that we highlighted in this blog:

• Peanut butter: possible salmonella contamination.
• Easy -Bake Ovens: burn and hand entrapment hazards.
• Millions of Maytag, Jenn-Air and GE dishwashers: fire hazards.
• Millions of popular toys: excessive levels of lead paint.
• Millions of pieces of children's jewelry: high lead content.
• Millions of toys containing small magnets: risk of internal injuries.
• Pet food containing a toxic chemical.
• Chinese farm-raised shrimp, catfish, eel, and other fish were banned by the FDA because they contained banned hazardous chemicals.
• Chinese-made tires: catastrophic tread separation causing at least one fatal accident.
• Toothpaste containing an ingredient used to make antifreeze was recalled. Some was counterfeit Colgate.
• Millions of pounds of chopped meat and chili: e-coli contamination and botulism, respectively..
• Cribs     and play yards were recalled after children strangled.
• A popular arts and crafts toy, Aqua Dots, was recalled after its glue was found to be toxic.

And, of course, there are more. 

Clearly, the system for ensuring the safety of products prior to their appearance on store shelves is broken.  Perhaps this year has been a wake-up call for industry, which has let its guard down, and for our government agencies, which are ill-equipped to prevent unsafe products from entering the marketplace.  We are encouraged that all the media and political attention given to these issues is likely to result in stronger laws and more enforcement authority for our government watchdog agencies.   

We hope the worst is behind us now that new laws and better industry vigilance are on the horizon.  We are looking forward to safer 2008. We will continue to provide you with the information you need to protect yourself in the marketplace while giving our opinion and analysis of the product safety that affect all consumers.

We wish you a happy and safe New Year!

The Consumer Reports Safety Blog Team

Don Mays
Caroline Mayer
Marc Perton
Mary Farrell
Jonea Gurwitt
Carolyn Cairns

Fisher-Price pulls second lead-tainted blood-pressure cuff off shelves in Illinois

Less than two weeks after Fisher-Price removed a lead-tainted red blood pressure cuff from sale in Illinois because the plaything violated that state's lead standards, the Illinois attorney general has announced the same action for a green blood-pressure cuff that is part of another Fisher-Price medical kit.

On Friday, Illinois State Attorney General Lisa Madigan warned that the same potential lead poisoning hazard exists with the green blood pressure cuff, which is found in the Sesame Street Giggle toy medical kit. (The red cuff is part of the classic Fisher-Price Medical Kit.) As in the previous announcement, Fisher Price will pull the product only from store shelves in Illinois—even though the toy kits are sold nationwide. And as before, the company is offering a replacement part for families who already own the toy; consumers can call 1-800-298-0638.

You may recall that the state's action with the first blood pressure cuff was prompted by Consumer Reports' December investigation "New worries over lead" in which we reported finding high lead levels when we tested samples of the red Fisher-Price toy blood pressure cuff, among other items. Our findings prompted Madigan's office to begin an independent investigation that led to Fisher-Price's decision to pull the product out of the state's stores. The reason: Illinois bans the sale of toys, clothing, jewelry or other children's products that contain lead in excess of 600 parts per million. It is one of the strongest lead laws in the country and more stringent than federal regulations, which place limits on only paint and surface coatings. There are no federal limits on lead in plastics such as PVC.

The current action with the green cuffs was initiated by Fisher-Price, which tested the product and then reported it to Illinois. Fisher-Price spokeswoman Juliette Reashor explained: "Through research, we identified a similar instance with the green cuff, which revealed levels of lead that, though fully compliant with all federal and international standards, exceeded the Illinois statute.  We proactively reached out to the State of Illinois to inform them of our findings."

“I am pleased that Fisher-Price took the initiative to test its products, self-report a violation, quickly remove the affected blood pressure cuffs from store shelves, and offer replacements to consumers,” Madigan said. “I continue to urge manufacturers and retailers to review and tighten up their quality control procedures so consumers can be confident that the items on store shelves are safe for their children.”

The action once again illustrates the need for tighter federal regulations on lead in children's products. There's no reason that children in one state should be protected while those who live elsewhere are not.

Worse than coal in your stocking, lead in your holiday decorations

A lot of consumers are concerned about potential lead in toys that they may be buying this holiday season. But there’s also reason to consider your lead exposure while decorating for the holidays. Already this fall, there have been recalls of several thousand holiday decorations because of lead including ornaments sold at JC Penney (below)  and figurines sold at Home Depot (at right). 

Meanwhile, many readers have asked us about warning labels that appear on holiday string lights that say they contain lead. Some labels may also advise washing your hands after handling. We think that‘s prudent advice. Lead is often used as a thermal stabilizer in the PVC insulation for electrical wire and cable. It helps keep the string lights flexible in a wide range of temperatures. But in CU’s tests, we found that the lead in the wire’s insulation can rub off on your hands. If you are eating finger foods while hanging your lights, you might be transferring some of that lead to your mouth. Lead accumulates in the body and is a neurotoxin that can cause brain damage and other problems, so it’s important to take precautions to avoid as many sources of lead exposure as possible.

That’s why you should follow the same advice if you have an artificial Christmas tree made of PVC. A 2004 study published in the Journal of Environmental Health found that the average artificial Christmas tree does not present a significant exposure risk. However, its limited sampling of trees indicated that some of the older trees it tested—13 and 17 years old—had relatively high levels of lead. The study by the University of North Carolina’s Environmental Quality Institute suggests that’s because lead was more commonly used as a stabilizer in the past. But some environmentalists, such as Christopher Gavigan, head of the nonprofit Healthy Child Healthy World, thinks the higher lead levels could also be due to the older trees breaking down, causing more lead to leach out. “Typically over time, with wear and tear and duress—the lead may shed lead-laced dust out of artificial trees, which may settle on branches or gifts below the tree and be transmitted to finger tips and mouths, especially of small children,” said Gavigan.

Steven Patch, EQI’s director and one of the study’s authors, said that he is more concerned about lead in everyday products, such as phone cords, toys, PVC lunch boxes and raincoats. Those items, he said, “present a greater hazard because there is more of a year-round chronic exposure.” However, he added, if he had to give personal advice to families with artificial trees it would be: “If you have a tree, use it, but wash your hands very carefully after assembling and dissembling and do not let children play near the tree, where some of that dust might settle. With newer trees, the risk should be minimal.”

Consumer Reports has not tested artificial trees so we can't say whether lead is a real problem or not. Since no one appears to know at what point a tree might shed it's lead, we urge consumers with older trees—especially families with young children who are most susceptible to its effects—to take extra care, keeping children away from trees and perhaps even discarding older trees for new ones particularly if you notice it generating dust or if the needles get brittle and start falling off.

One more piece of advice from the Consumer Product Safety Commission:  When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the “Fire Resistant” label. “Although this label does not mean the tree won’t catch fire, it does indicate the tree is more resistant to burning,” says the CPSC.

Whether the tree is real or artificial, be sure to place it away from fireplaces, radiators, and candles. And unplug the lights when you go to bed or leave home.

Holiday recalls

• Home Depot recalls 64,000 holiday figurines
• Reeves International recalls 36,000 holiday ornaments

RC2 recalls potty and feeding seats

The RC2 corporation recalled two of its First Years products today because they pose a hazard to young children. A recall of 100,000 reclining feeding seats intended for newborns and toddlers was made after the company received 12 reports of children falling out of the seats and 38 more of the safety strap pulling out of its slots. The second recall involves 160,000 potty chairs with a decorative plaque tainted with lead paint. RC2, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, is the same company that made two recalls of Thomas and Friends railway toys—totaling  1.7 million items—earlier this year because the toys violated federal lead paint standards.

The First Years newborn-to-toddler reclining feeding seats
The made-in-the-U.S.A. feeding chairs were sold by various retailers nationwide from November 2006 through October 2007 for about $30. The seat can be adjusted between reclining and upright positions and includes a tray, reversible cushion and a three-point safety belt. The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which announced the recall, said the seat's restraining straps can pull out of the waist strap slots, posing a fall hazard to its young occupants. Consumers should stop using the feeding seat immediately and contact RC2 to obtain free replacement straps.

The First Years 3-in-1 Flush and Sounds potty seats
The recalled potty chairs have a Winnie the Pooh themed plaque on the back on which the orange paint violates federal lead paint standards. The seats were sold at mass and specialty retailers nationwide from April 2006 through August 2007 for between $20 and $25. RC2 is offering owners of the seat a permanent clear protective shield that covers the plaque and cautions parents not to let children use the seat until the cover is put in place.

Parents with questions about the recalls can 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 www.recalls.rc2.com.

Fisher-Price pulls lead-tainted toy in Illinois but not other states

In our December investigation,“New worries over lead,” we reported finding high lead levels when we tested samples of a red Fisher-Price toy blood pressure cuff, among other items. As a result of our findings and an independent investigation by the office of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Fisher-Price is now voluntarily pulling the toy from store shelves in Illinois and offering families who own one a free replacement.

The red blood pressure cuff is part of the Fisher-Price Medical Kit, a classic toy that has been sold for several years. We found high lead levels embedded in the red plastic arm band as well as on the surface of the arm band, which we determined could easily rub off on the hands of a  child playing with the toy. Based on the levels of accessible surface lead we measured, we estimated that a child could potentially receive a dose of more than 15 micrograms of lead per day through foreseeable hand-to-mouth contact while playing with the toy.  That amount could potentially increase a child's risk of accumulating a blood lead level that exceeds 10 micrograms per deciliter—the threshold established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that generally triggers some form of intervention by doctors or public health officials.

Although we discussed our test results with Fisher-Price and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), neither took immediate action.  Fisher-Price contends that the toy "is fully compliant" with all federal regulations, which CPSC confirms. But the federal regulation for lead in toys places limits on only paint and surface coatings.  There are no federal limits on lead in plastics such as PVC. That’s a huge gap in the regulations that can leave children at risk for lead exposure. Congress is currently working on federal legislation that will close the gap and, if passed, will regulate lead in all children's products.  Consumers Union has been supporting this effort, which promises to reduce children's risk of lead exposure.   

Illinois filled the gap in federal regulations by passing a law last year that limited lead in all children’s products, whatever the material, to 600 parts per million (ppm)—matching the federal limits on lead paint.  When Illinois heard of our test results on the toy cuff, the Attorney General’s office bought two of the red cuffs and had them tested at a certified testing facility. According to the attorney general, the tests of the blood pressure cuffs revealed lead levels of 4,500 ppm and 5,900 ppm, more than seven to nine times the limit of 600 ppm allowed by Illinois state law. “Parents and other consumers should act quickly to ensure that children do not continue to have contact with this product,” Madigan said.

At the request of Madigan's office, Fisher-Price has agreed to remove the affected toy Medical Kit from store shelves in Illinois and offer a replacement part—free of lead—to families that already own the toy. When asked what kit owners in other states should do,  Fisher-Price spokeswoman Juliette Reashor said, "If consumers in states other than Illinois have concerns about the red blood pressure cuff, they may contact Fisher-Price at 800-298-0638."

She added that only the red cuffs are at issue. "The other colored blood pressure cuffs are made of different materials and are unaffected," Reashor said.  Fisher-Price is continuing to feature the kit on its Web site. Reashor added that Fisher-Price has advised its online retailers that the kit with the red cuff should not be sold to consumers in Illinois. Amazon.com and Toys 'R' Us stopped selling the kit with the red cuff nationwide after our report came out in November.

All this leaves us asking: Are children in Illinois better protected than kids in the rest of the country? We are hopeful that the pending federal legislation will put an end to this ludicrous inequity and protect children in all states equally.

Madigan, whose office enforces the Illinois Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, has been pro-active about tackling lead issues.   Last week the Attorney General introduced the Safe Shopping Guide, a 91-page color directory of hundreds of recalled children’s products.  Consumers can download the guide from the Attorney General’s Web site.

Video: How we test for lead
Consumer Reports tested for lead and found it in a variety of products. Watch the video.

Children's jewelry and Boppy slipcovers recalled due to lead

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

States step in to get the lead out

Yesterday, California Attorney General Edmund Brown and Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo filed suit against 20 companies for manufacturing and selling toys with “unlawful quantities of lead.”   The suits allege that the companies knowingly exposed individuals to lead and failed to provide warnings about this risk.  Under California’s Proposition 65, businesses cannot expose individuals to hazardous chemicals without posting a clear warning.

The companies named in the lawsuit included Mattel, Fisher-Price, Michaels Stores, Toys 'R' Us, Wal-Mart, Target, Sears, KB Toys, Costco Wholesale, A&A Global Industries, RC2 Corporation, Eveready Battery Company, Kids II, Kmart, Marvel Entertainment and Toy Investments.  Businesses that violate Proposition 65 are subject to civil penalties of up to $2,500 per day for each violation.  Yesterday’s lawsuit seeks to remedy past violations and prompt manufacturers and retailers to establish processes that prevent toys with lead from being sold in the future.

Illinois is also taking on the issue.  A law recently passed in that state forbids the sale of children’s products with more than 600 parts per million total lead.  Although this limit is the same as the federal standard for lead in paint, the Illinois law is broader since it also applies to plastics, metals and any other materials used in children’s products.

Sunday’s Chicago Tribune reported on their extensive tests conducted on lead in toys.  Of the 800 toys tested, 12 failed federal standards and another 9 failed Illinois standards.  Several of the products were pulled off store shelves after retailers learned of the Tribune’s test results. And the newspaper reported today that all 21 tainted products are now the subject of an investigation by State Attorney General Lisa Madigan who has a reputation for strict enforcement of Illinois’ lead laws. 

According to the Tribune article Sunday, a spokesperson from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said that their federal agency “would rather have one U.S. law for lead in toys as opposed to the current patchwork of federal and state rules.”  But states can take steps that raise the public health and safety bar, and should always be allowed to do so. For example, California and Illinois laws on lead are more comprehensive than the federal laws. States are taking matters into their own hands while the CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord opposes legislation that would, among other things, strengthen federal regulations for lead in all children’s products.

In response to strong state laws, industry efforts have geared up to ensure that federal regulation would thwart state laws.  That might be good for business but it's bad for states whose citizens feel their tax dollars should pay for a high level of consumer protection.    

While only two states are flexing their muscle on the lead in toys issue, consumers in the other 48 states may wind up reaping the benefits.  Major retailers may find logistic problems in not being able to sell the same merchandise in all the states in which they do business.  If companies have to sort out what products can and can't be sold in California and  Illinois, they might just end up crossing them off the entire country's list altogether.
—Don Mays 

   

12 toy shopping tips for a safer holiday

If you are left feeling a bit scared and confused shopping for children this holiday season, you are not alone. So far this year there have been tens of millions of toys recalled due to lead paint, small magnets, or toxic chemicals.   

Consumers Union has 12 shopping tips that will help families enjoy a safe and merry holiday:    

1. Do not buy metal jewelry — especially cheap metal jewelry — for young children.  About 20 percent of children’s metal jewelry has high levels of lead lurking beneath the surface coating.  A child who mouths or accidentally swallows a piece of lead-laden jewelry can suffer lead poisoning.
2. You can test toys for lead by using a home lead test kit.  Although they are not always accurate, a positive test result indicates a high likelihood that the product you’re testing has lead.  Consumer Reports recommends the Lead Check and the Lead Inspector, which performed best in our tests.
3. Be careful of toys with magnets.  Many toys have small magnets that can fall out and, if swallowed, can cause serious health problems that are hard to diagnose.  Don’t buy toys with magnetic parts that are small enough to be swallowed. 
4. If you find loose, small magnets anywhere around the house, track down the source.  Immediately take the product and any of its other magnetic components away from your child and contact the manufacturer and the Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov.
5. Avoid no-name products and be careful of toys purchased at dollar stores, street fairs, vending machines, thrift stores, or yard sales.
6. When purchasing arts and crafts materials, stay away from permanent paints and markers. Look for water-based paints and glues.  For a child under three years old, purchase age-appropriate material that your child can’t swallow rather than small foam pieces or small pom-pom balls.
7. Look for the age grading on toy packages and purchase only age-appropriate toys for your child.  The age grading not only relates to play value but also to safety.
8. Some toys may be inappropriate for your toddlers and babies.  Toys labeled for children 3 and over may have small parts that can be a choking hazard for children under 3 years old.  If you have children under 3 don’t buy a toy with this warning label.
9. Do your own safety check to determine if your child’s toys are choking hazards for young children.  If his or her toy fits through a toilet-paper tube, it is a potential choking hazard. The government-approved test for choking hazards is done with a smaller tube. The more stringent toilet-paper tube test helps you keep questionable toys out of your child’s hands and mouth.
10. Beware of toys that can be broken into smaller pieces such as chalk, crayons, or caps from markers.  They can pose choking hazards to toddlers and babies.
11. Small balls, tricycles, and balloons are the leading causes of death attributed to toys.  Balls smaller than 1-3/4 inches in diameter can pose a choking hazard to young children.  Balloons were associated with more than 110 deaths since 1973.  Children can suffocate while trying to blow up a balloon or while chewing on or sucking a balloon.
12. Before you shop, check recent toy recalls at www.recalls.gov and at www.notinmycart.org. You can also sign up for automatic recall notifications at www.cpsc.gov.

Chemical substitutions jeopardize safety

Last week's recall of 4.2 million Aqua Dots rang the alarm bell again for the toy industry. After promising that this would be the safest holiday season ever, the industry is once again licking its wounds.  This time it wasn't lead paint or tiny magnets; it was a hazardous chemical that can form into GHB, the "date rape drug," if ingested. 

The highly-promoted Aqua Dots promised to be one of this holiday season's hottest toys.  So how could it happen that this mainstream toy could cause such serious health effects?  The answer: unscrupulous business practices and the lack of vigilance to detect them.

The glue on Aqua Dots beads was supposed to contain the chemical compound 1,5-pentanediol.  But the products that made at least nine children seriously sick had 1,4-butanediol, a similar but hazardous substitute.  According to the New York Times, the cost of the substituted chemical was less than one-third that of the chemical that was supposed to be used.

But this is the same story we've seen with other products.  Chemical substitutions in Chinese-made products have rocked the product safety world this year.  It started with melamine in pet food, an ingredient used in fertilizer that gave the pet food artificially high protein readings.  Then it was diethlyene glycol, a component of antifreeze, used in toothpaste as a substitute for its more expensive cousin, glycerin.  And then it was the lead paint that was used in toy factories that was labeled as lead-free.    

Chemical substitutions in products are not only jeopardizing our safety but tarnishing venerable brand names in the American marketplace.  We doubt that the manufacturers of these products were aware of the surreptitious substitutions made at the factories they hired to produce their products. The problem calls for constant vigilance: better quality control and continuous testing to ensure that each and every batch of products made meets manufacturing specifications and all of our recognized safety standards.  And our government watchdog agencies need to ensure that the testing is being done, and done correctly.

All that testing may result in slightly higher prices for the products, but parents, pet owners and other consumers likely would be glad to pay the higher costs for the peace-of-mind of knowing that their purchases were safe. On top of that, maybe the appeal of outsourcing manufacturing to foreign factories would become less financially attractive once the true cost of producing safe products is factored in.

—Don Mays      

Recall reminders: Curious George dolls added to the list

Curious George dolls have been added to what has been a dizzying week of toy recalls. While the 175,000 Curious George dolls sold with story books were recalled because of lead paint, two of the week's largest recalls, Aqua Dots and a Laugh & Learn kitchen toy, were recalled for other hazards. Some of the 4.2 million Aqua Dots craft kits were found to be contaminated with a chemical related to GHB, the banned date rape drug, which caused children to become comatose. And the Fisher-Price kitchens were recalled after several small children choked or gagged on small pieces that broke off. A third non-lead related action involved 31,000 slingshot pool toys recalled after five children cut their hands using them.

The Curious George recall involves five plush dolls — four with plastic faces and one with a soft face — in which the face, the hat or both are covered with paint containing lead. Several soft-face versions of the doll, made by Marvel Toys, are not affected by the recall. On its Web site, Toys 'R' Us, one of the retailers that sold the doll, shows which dolls are and are not affected.

Made in China, the dolls were sold at toy and discount department stores nationwide from December 2005 through August 2007 for about $15. Marvel Toys is offering consumers a full refund and can be contacted at (800) 352-2064 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.regcen.com/curiousgeorge

Also recalled this week because of lead were collectible tin toys including not only a Winnie-the-Pooh pail and top but a robot, wind-up duck family and a music box. Toy cars were recalled by two different companies and a pair of children's sunglasses is also on the list. Here is a full list of this week's toy recalls.

• Marvel Toys Curious George plush dolls (175,000)
• Dollar General Children’s fashion sunglasses (51,000)
• Aqua Dots craft kits (4.2 million)
• Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn kitchen toy (155,000)
• Swimways “Skippy” pool toys (31,000)
• Dollar General pull-back action toy cars (380,000)
• International Sourcing dragster and funny cars (7,500)
• Northern Tool & Equipment “Big Red” wagons (7,200)
• Schylling “Robot 2000” collectible tin robot (2,600)
• Schylling tin pails and spinning tops (3,600 plus 66,000 recalled earlier)
• Schylling duck family collectible wind-up toy (3,500)
• Schylling Dizzy Ducks music box (1,300)

Please note: Crib recall
Also recalled this week, were 8,900 Wendy Bellissimo Collection convertible cribs made by Bassettbaby, of Bassett, Va. The bolts connecting the top corners of the crib can come loose, creating a gap and posing a serious entrapment and strangulation hazard. Bassettbaby has received 85 reports of bolts loosening, including one report of a 13 month-old child's hand becoming entrapped between the railings. The cribs were sold at Babies 'R' Us stores nationwide from July 2005 through October 2007 for about $500. Consumers should stop using the cribs immediately and contact Bassettbaby for a free repair kit at (888) 897-4689 between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET daily, or visit the firm's Web site at www.bassettbaby.com.

Collectibles among today's recalls for lead

In the latest flurry of recalls of toys tainted with lead, the Consumer Product Safety Commission today recalled four items from a company that sells tin toys and other collectibles as well as 380,000 pull-back cars sold at dollar stores, a red wagon and a toy dragster. Schylling Associates, a company based in  Rowley, Mass. expanded its recall of tin tops and pails issued this summer while also recalling a tin robot, wind-up duck family and a wooden music box — all because of lead paint. The tops were sold four years ago. Details of today's recalls follow. Click on the title links for refund information and more photos.

3,600 Winnie-the-Pooh spinning tops

• Earlier recall of 66,000 tops and pails

3,500 Duck family collectible wind-up toys
2,600 “Robot 2000” collectible tin robots
1,300 Dizzy Ducks music boxes
Description: Lead paint was found on the wooden handle of the Winnie-the-Pooh top,  on the surface of the tin duck and robot toys and  on the wooden base of the music box.
Sold by: Specialty toy stores and gift shops nationwide in the following time frames. Tops: from April 2003 through November 2003 for about $12. Robots: from October 2006 through September 2007 for about $25. Duck pull-toys: from January 2007 through August 2007 for about $8. Music boxes: from March 2007 through October 2007 for about $12.
Made in: China
Importer: Schylling Associates Inc., of Rowley, Mass.
Contact: Schylling at (800) 767-8697 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.schylling.com

Pull-back action toy cars
How many: 380,000
Description: Two styles of “pull and release” toy cars, including a four pack of Super Wheels (UPC #400016576344) and a two pack of Super Racer cars (UPC # 883788965002).
Reason: Surface paint on the cars contains excessive levels of lead.
Sold by: Dollar General stores nationwide from April 2007 through October 2007 for about $1 per pack.
Made in: China
Importer: Dollar General Merchandising Inc., of Goodlettsville, Tenn.
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

“Big Red” wagons
How many: 7,200
Description: Wagon has a red painted, steel deck with removable wooden sides. The wheels have ball bearings and air-filled tires.
Reason: Surface paints on the wagon and handle contain excessive levels of lead.
Sold by: Northern Tool & Equipment catalog, Web site, and retail stores nationwide from July 2007 through September 2007 for about $60.
Made in: China
Importer: Northern Tool & Equipment Co., of Burnsville, Minn.
Contact: Northern Tool & Equipment Co. at (800) 222-5381 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.northerntool.com.

Dragster and funny car toys
How many: 7,500
Description: Plastic models of a dragster and funny car. The dragster is approximately 22 inches long, black in color with various sponsor decals. The funny car is approximately 14 inches long and is also black. Both models have the ISL logo imprinted on the underside.
Reason: Surface paint on the wheels and engine of the toys contains excessive levels of lead.
Sold by: National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) events through Schumacher Racing, and Matco Tools through door-to-door sales by its representatives from March 2007 through September 2007.
Made in: China
Importer: International