About 350,000 Chinese-made toys that were used as part of a summer reading program were recalled because they contained led. The small bendable toys were packaged as “Paws, Claws, Scales, and Tails†and were distributed in 48 states. The toy recall came 13 months after an Indiana woman alerted the Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) that the toys contained lead. The toys contained 6 1/2 times the federal allowable lead limits.
Even small levels of lead are associated with significant injuries in children, including: decreased intelligence, stunted growth and poor hearing. Higher levels can cause coma, convulsions and death. Infants and young children are most at risk because they often chew on the toys and ingest the lead.
The toys were distributed by Fun Express, a division of Oriental Trading Company. Fun Express sold the toys to Fort Atkinson, Wis.-based Highsmith Co., which prepackaged the summer reading program and distributed the toys to libraries nationwide between January and August.
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