Halloween Teeth and Toy Soldier Recall Due to High Lead Levels

Toy soldiers, Halloween teeth recalled over lead-poisoning fears

From toy soldiers to monster teeth, tens of thousands of Chinese-made toys were swept from North American store shelves Wednesday because they contain high levels of lead.

In the largest such recall, major toy retailer Toys "R" Us pulled about 16,000 Chinese-made Elite Operations toys from its U.S. stores because their surface paint contains excessive levels of lead.

A Health Canada spokeswoman said only 52 of the military-style toys had been sold in Canada, and were also being recalled.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warned consumers early on Wednesday - Halloween Day - that $2 packages of "Ugly Teeth" sold by the tens of thousands since last year contain excessive amounts of lead.

The joke teeth, identified by product numbers 394207 and 390630, were imported from China by Amscan Canada of Dorval, Que. Health Canada said 571 of the items had been sold across the country at a variety of retail outlets.

An Amscan spokesman said the company was in the process of contacting retailers to ask that they be removed from shelves.

Wednesday's Toys "R" Us recall in Canada included three Elite Operations toy sets: the Command Patrol Center (Sku 661317), the Barracuda Helicopter with two figures (Sku 661287) and the Combatant Squad three-pack of 20-centimetre (8-inch) figures (Sku 577286 ).

Joey Rathwell, a Health Canada spokeswoman, said the excessive lead levels had been found in paint used on the toys' logos. She said the products were new stock and most were unsold and had been removed from shelves.

Rathwell noted that the "Ugly Teeth" were particularly dangerous because "they are meant to go in the mouth." Simply handling the product "would not cause major lead poisoning."

Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause neurological damage.

Under Canada's Hazardous Products Act, lead content in paints applied to toys must not exceed 600 milligrams per kilogram.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or illness in connection with either recall.

This is the second recall of lead-tainted children's products for Toys "R" Us this month. Earlier in the month, the company recalled Totally Me! Funky Room Decor Sets, also due to high lead levels in surface paints.

Source: CBC.ca