Halloween Candy and Store Displays With Lead Recalled
Contact:
Ron Dyer
ron.e.dyer@maine.gov
207-287-4152
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --AUGUSTA, Maine -- Oct. 27, 2005-- The distributor of Halloween candy that lights up, along with store displays, has voluntarily recalled these products from Maine stores after discovering both items have high lead content. The products, Finger Lite Light-Up Candy Necklaces and Lite-Up Candy Rings, were distributed by Malibu Toys of California.
The voluntary agreement to recall the products and packaging comes after Malibu Toys was alerted by the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (TPCH) which coordinates the implementation of packaging laws in 19 states including Maine.
Individual packages of this Halloween novelty lollipop are displayed on retail shelves in a box with a blinking pumpkin. The blinking light is powered by a battery, which is attached to a printed circuit board with lead-based solder. As a packaging component, the printed circuit board assembly violates the toxics in packaging requirement that no restricted heavy metals are intentionally added to a package or packaging component.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection's Ron Dyer said," Nineteen states, including Maine, have Toxics in Packaging legislation that prohibit the intentional introduction of mercury, cadmium, lead and hexavalent chromium in packaging. The legislation was the result of a multi-state effort to limit the amount of toxic heavy metals entering the solid waste stream."
Retail stores listed in Maine as receiving the items include CVS, Kmart, Movie Gallery, Rite Aid, Target, Walgreen's and Wal-Mart.
The toxics in packaging laws, most of which were introduced in the early 1990s, have been instrumental in changing industry practices and removing these persistent bioaccumulative toxins from packaging, and ultimately the environment and adversely impacting public health. The laws, in fact, were so successful that the European Union adopted the same restrictions.
This week, October 23-29, is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. Most cases of childhood blood lead poisoning in Maine are caused by exposure to dust and chips of leaded paint from pre-1950 housing. Products and their packaging containing lead may also contribute to elevated blood lead levels and should be kept away from young children.
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