Lead Paint Hazard: Midwest Importers Recalls Children's Necklaces And Bracelets

PRODUCT: Children's necklaces and bracelets imported and distributed by Midwest Importers of Cannon Falls, Inc. The products are made of wooden blue, pink, purple and yellow colored beads with white wooden rabbits and orange wooden carrots strung on elastic strings. Approximately 26,000 necklaces and 39,000 bracelets were sold at retail stores nationwide from December 1992 through October 1993.

PROBLEM: The paint on the beads contain levels of lead that exceed government standards, presenting a safety hazard to children.

WHAT TO DO: Consumers should immediately take the necklaces and bracelets away from children and return them to the store where they were purchased for a full refund. For more information, consumers may call Midwest Importers at 1-507-263-4261.

WASHINGTON, DC --- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Midwest Importers of Cannon Falls, Inc., Cannon Falls, MN is voluntarily recalling about 26,000 24-inch children's toy necklaces and 39,000 6-inch children's toy bracelets. Testing by the company revealed that the levels of lead in the products' paint exceeds government standards, presenting a safety hazard to children. Even though CPSC and the company know of no poisoning incidents, this recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of poisoning. Both the necklaces and bracelets are constructed of wooden blue, pink, purple, and yellow colored beads with white wooden rabbits and orange wooden carrots strung on elastic strings. Each product is packaged in an 3-inch by 3-inch cardboard box with a transparent plastic lid. The boxes are not labeled except for a small adhesive tag attached to an elastic string which says "Made in China" and bears the Cannon Falls copyright. The products were imported from China and sold at retail stores nationwide from December 1992 through October 1993. The necklaces sold for approximately $3.00 each and bracelets sold for approximately $1.00 each.

Consumers are urged to immediately take the necklaces and bracelets away from children and return them to the store where they were purchased for a full refund. For more information, consumers may call Midwest Importers of Cannon Falls, Inc. at (507) 263-4261.

CPSC is announcing this recall as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.6 million injuries and 21,700 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.