Chinese-Made SpongeBob SquarePants Address Books Recalled Over Lead Fears

http://www.foxnews.com ^ | Wednesday, August 22, 2007 | Associated Press

[nmh]

Chinese-Made SpongeBob SquarePants Address Books Recalled Over Lead Fears Wednesday, August 22, 2007

WASHINGTON — An Ohio importer recalled nearly 250,000 SpongeBob SquarePants address books and journals manufactured in China because the bindings MIGHT contain hazardous levels of lead paint, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Wednesday.

Martin Designs Inc. notified the agency that tests of the metal spiral bindings turned up lead content above the level considered safe for children, the CPSC said. Under regulations, children's products found to have more than .06 percent lead accessible to users are subject to a recall.

...

The recalled address books' UPC code, printed on the back cover, is 80773007505; the recalled journals have the UPC codes 80773002260, 80773075501 and 80773007551.

[nmh]

For a child to get brain damage they have to ingest far more than an address book or a journal binder. Also the weasel word, MIGHT is used.

It seems to me folks are getting a tad carried away.

[the invisib1e hand]

a chinese spongebob? OK, then I guess we need a black one, too.

[Froufrou]

I’m beginning to wonder about my cheap dishes from Walmart, made in China. Nuking food on them can’t be good.

At the local grocery, they gave away fajita pans last week. Think I’ll give it back!

[nmh]

It might be a good idea tio return them ... since they are repeadely used with food.

[nmh]

It might be a good idea to return them ... since they are repeatedly used with food.

[metmom]

Another nail in the coffin for China.

[JACKRUSSELL]

Standard Chinaware. The federal government prohibits the sale of dinnerware that releases lead in amounts greater than 2,000 ppb (which prevents direct cases of lead poisoning), but the state of California requires warning labels on any dishware that releases lead in amount greater than 224 ppb to protect against long-term health risks. Most major manufacturers of dinnerware sold in department stores and home decorating shops still use lead glazes, without labeling them as such. If you want to buy this kind of dinnerware, ask the salesperson and verify with the manufacturer whether or not a lead-free glaze was used on the particular style you are interested in. Generally patterns with bright colors contain lead; white and subdued earth tones do not.

Imported pottery with bright glazes. The biggest offenders of lead in dishware and glassware are the brightly colored pottery pieces from foreign countries. If in doubt, don't buy it.

From: http://www.worldwise.com/disglas.html

[Froufrou]

Thank you for that informative post!!! Gee, I hope my special order Corell hearthware is okay, as it is bright yellow with black bottoms...I’d better write them...

[JACKRUSSELL]

I replaced all of my “Made in China” dishes when the pet food recall started back in March / April with this, 100% American-made, 100% lead-free color glazes:

http://www.hlchina.com/fiestacolors.htm