Posted on 02/15/2008 3:37:24 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Lollipops from China recalled
Published: February 15, 2008
LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — The importer of a Valentine's Day lollipop said it was voluntarily recalling the treats after metal fragments were found in at least two lollipops sold at central Florida stores. Sherwood Brands of Maryland, which imports the candy from China, said it was recalling all of its Pokemon Valentine Cards and Pops, which have been pulled from the shelves of thousands of stores across the country.
Roughly 20 lollipops were seized at Kathleen Elementary School in Lakeland. X-rays determined that only one piece definitely had metal — what appeared to be a staple — baked inside, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
On Wednesday, a woman in nearby Mulberry told authorities she found a lollipop with a piece of metal in it in a bag of the same product. The metal appeared to be part of a razor blade, authorities said.
The sheriff's office issued a safety advisory and the Dollar General chain removed the product from its more than 8,000 stores nationwide. The Food and Drug Administration is investigating.
Judd said the two tainted lollipops were purchased from different Dollar General stores near Lakeland. He said the lollipops did not appear to have been tampered with and it appeared the metal was baked into the candy in China, where it was produced.
"Our children were put at risk of physical injury because of this," Judd said.
No injuries were reported and it was unclear whether the metal was intentionally placed in the candy.
The sheriff's office said Sherwood Brands was cooperating. "They are as concerned as we are," Judd said.
Sherwood Brands did not return calls seeking comment Thursday but announced the recall in a statement. The company said it was recalling the cards and treats, which were sold in packages of 10 and 30.
"Sherwood Brands is advising its distribution network to remove the Pokemon branded Valentine cards and lollipops from the shelves immediately. The product was sold at retailers nationwide," the company said in the statement.
Dollar General, headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tenn., also pulled another Sherwood Brands product, Dog Artlist Collection Valentine Cards and Pops, from shelves. Tawn Earnest, a spokeswoman for the chain, said no other pieces of metal have been found in the manufacturer's products.
China's reputation as an exporter has taken a beating in the past year following the discovery of dangerous chemicals in products from toothpaste to toys. Last year it announced a series of measures to boost product supervision.
in China, Cupid shoots lovers with real arrows
Yu Hu.
real arrows laced with cobra venom?
Ping!
There are far, far too many of these kinds of stories involving "Made in China" products.
Worse. Real arrows laced with chinese toothpaste.
Is it a lollipop or just a tasty throwing star?
I’ll ask again: what is it going to take for people to stop buying things from China?
LLS
Can we severe ALL ties?
LLS
For the USA to STOP importing edibles from China? Having an FDA people wrongly think that all foods on shelves have been inspected and or approved safe for consumption. If the FDA doesn't mean anything, then disband it!
Truly stunning, isn't it? A guy who doesn't have a degree in science tells them that a computer model predicts that global temperatures may rise a fraction of a degree over the next 50 years and they start burning their food for fuel and stop buying incandescent light bulbs, but when people and animals are actually poisoned and die from tainted products from China, they continue to buy those products with abandon.
The US government is incapable of protecting you or your child or your pet. We must wake up and realize that only we can do that. If every parent and pet owner in the USA would stop buying anything “Made in China,” the problem would be solved.
The General Dollar stores would have to close, however, because virtually all their products come from China.
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