Several months after yanking cadmium-containing
children's metal jewelry from its shelves, Walmart has started to test for the toxic metal. Earlier this month the retailer began testing for cadmium in kids jewelry, toys, crafts, bibs, pacifiers and other child-care items.
The retailer's concern over cadmium was raised after an Associated Press investigation found that some Chinese manufacturers had been using cadmium as a
substitute for lead. For its report, the AP organized lab testing of 103 items bought in New York, Ohio, Texas and California at the end of last year. The results: 12 percent of the pieces of jewelry contained at least 10 percent cadmium.
At the time of the AP report, the Consumer Product Safety Commission had yet to make a recall because of cadmium levels. Since then it has announced several including
necklaces from Walmart.
The CPSC is currently in the process of developing standards for cadmium, but Walmart said in a
press release that it didn't want to wait. Its testing regimen follows cadmium standards set by the European Union.
"We really wanted it to be done to affect product this year," Peggy Fowler, Walmart's senior director of product safety
told the AP. "We feel like it is our responsibility if we're going to have product on our shelves."
