Children's charm bracelets recalled becasue of lead

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, has announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Children’s Divine Inspiration Charm Bracelets

Units: About 7,900

Importer: Buy-Rite Designs Inc., of Freehold, N.J.

Hazard: The recalled jewelry contains high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled charm bracelets have silver-colored charms, including angels, crosses, and hearts, and clear and pink beads that hang from a silver-colored chain.

Sold at: Dollar stores and other small retail stores nationwide from March 2004 through August 2007 for about $1.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled jewelry away from children and return it to store where purchased for a full refund. If unable to return it to the store, contact Buy-Rite for information on how to receive a refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, 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

How big is the problem of lead in jewelry?

Inspections by the Consumer Product Safety Commission of 85 pieces of jewelry collected since last fall from retailers and importers determined that 20 percent still posed a potential poisoning hazard. Separate surveys by health officials or lead experts in Ohio, Massachusetts and Maryland found even higher percentages.

The unannounced federal inspections also left no doubt about the primary source of the threat: of the 17.9 million pieces of jewelry items pulled from the market since the start of 2005, 95 percent were made in China.

Numerous hazardous products imported from China — including toxic ingredients put into dog food, tainted toothpaste, faulty tires and toys coated in lead paint — have been recalled. But the problem with the children’s jewelry, persisting after two years, reveals just how difficult it may be to resolve such problems.

Federal officials said that they had made progress in curtailing the lead threat in children’s jewelry, but that they needed more enforcement powers, like the ability to impose fines or even criminal charges against repeat offenders. Scott Wolfson, a spokesman for the consumer safety commission, said, “We want to get to a point of not having to do recall after recall, and simply make the marketplace safe.”

Full story here in today's New York Times.

Children’s Earrings Sold at Wal-Mart Stores in Florida Recalled by Uncas Manufacturing Co. Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, has announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Sleeping Beauty Crown and Cinderella Star Earring Sets

Units: About 220

Manufacturer: Uncas Manufacturing Company, of Providence, RI

Hazard: The recalled metal earring sets contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves the Sleeping Beauty Crown and the Cinderella Star Earring sets. The Sleeping Beauty Crown set contains two pairs of earrings; one pair is shaped as pink crowns and the other pair is shaped as the Sleeping Beauty character. The Cinderella Star Earring set contains two pairs of earrings; one pair is shaped as blue stars and the other one is shaped as the Cinderella character. The packaging is shaped as a pink heart and “The Wonderful World of Disney” is printed in the front.

Sold at: Wal-Mart Stores in Florida from February 2007 to June 2007 for about $5.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take this recalled jewelry away from children and return it to Uncas Manufacturing Co. for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact the firm at (800) 776-0980 between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or e-mail the firm at skenney@uncas.com

Children’s Metal Jewelry Recalled by Future Industries Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, has announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Essentials for Kids Jewelry Sets

Units: About 20,000

Importer: Future Industries, of Cliffwood Beach, N.J.

Hazard: The recalled metal jewelry sets contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled jewelry sets include a necklace, bracelet and pair of earrings made of green, blue or pink plastic beads. The necklaces have painted metallic pendants in the shape of shoes, girls, blackboards with “ABCD,” or school buses. The other recalled jewelry sets include a necklace and seven pendants, one for each day of the week. The pendants are shaped as sandals, purses or butterflies. “Essentials for kids” is printed on the packaging.

Sold at: Gift stores, dollar stores, and small discount stores nationwide from August 2005 through April 2007 for about $1.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled jewelry away from children. Return it to the store where purchased for a full refund, or contact Future Industries for information on receiving a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Future Industries at (800) 929-0006 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.