March 2007
Toy ring recalled; CPSC moves closer to banning lead in kids’ jewelry
LEAD IN TOYS Levels found in children’s rings could be toxic.
Celebrate Express has recalled 194,000 Gigantic Gemstone Rings because they could contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic
if ingested by children and can cause a range of severe health problems, including brain damage, and at high doses, even death.
The toy ring is silver-colored metallic with a large plastic gemstone in blue, red, purple, green, or clear. The rings were sold individually and as part of party favor, costume, and heirloom sets, from October 2003 through October 2006 at Celebrate Express, Birthday Express, Costume Express, and Storybook Heirloom Web sites and catalogs, and at the Birthday Express retail outlet in Kirkland, Wash., for about $1.50. No injuries or incidents have been reported.
A week after this recall, the Consumer Product Safety Commission unanimously approved an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that could lead to a ban of children’s metal jewelry containing more than 0.06 percent of total lead.
This action comes after a steady stream of recalls of children’s jewelry containing lead, including one that occurred after the death of a child who swallowed a metal charm. At least 14 separate recalls involving more than 160 million pieces of metal jewelry have been issued over the past two years.
The proposed ban is in response to a petition filed by the Sierra Club and is strongly supported by Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of this magazine.
WHAT TO DO
Consumers should take the toy rings away from children immediately. Contact Celebrate Express at 888-551-3995 for a refund. The company has directly contacted previous Web site and catalog purchasers of the products by mail.
The toy ring is silver-colored metallic with a large plastic gemstone in blue, red, purple, green, or clear. The rings were sold individually and as part of party favor, costume, and heirloom sets, from October 2003 through October 2006 at Celebrate Express, Birthday Express, Costume Express, and Storybook Heirloom Web sites and catalogs, and at the Birthday Express retail outlet in Kirkland, Wash., for about $1.50. No injuries or incidents have been reported.
A week after this recall, the Consumer Product Safety Commission unanimously approved an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that could lead to a ban of children’s metal jewelry containing more than 0.06 percent of total lead.
This action comes after a steady stream of recalls of children’s jewelry containing lead, including one that occurred after the death of a child who swallowed a metal charm. At least 14 separate recalls involving more than 160 million pieces of metal jewelry have been issued over the past two years.
The proposed ban is in response to a petition filed by the Sierra Club and is strongly supported by Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of this magazine.
WHAT TO DO
Consumers should take the toy rings away from children immediately. Contact Celebrate Express at 888-551-3995 for a refund. The company has directly contacted previous Web site and catalog purchasers of the products by mail.
