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