Somewhere along the line I missed the fact that children’s water bottles were part of the all recalls. Water bottles. That sit and hold our children’s water that they drink. Yes, it seems like I am stating the obvious, but I am horrified. Was that the outside or the inside surface coatings on those water bottles? It just makes me sick that these companies get fined a mere half a million in total, how disgusting. That’s not even a slap on the wrist, that’s a mosquito buzzing around their ears just annoying them, and swatted away.
Some of these companies received only a $30-40,000 fine, while our children played with toys and wore jewelry that exceeded the standards set by the CPSC. And the one company’s prodcut that the coating was 60% lead? Disgusting. I will be trying to find out what company that is and what the product was, if any reader knows, please email me. Sixty percent lead doesn’t violate safety standards, that is a complete and utter disregard for the safety of our children and should be punished with more than a fine.
I see that Micheals is in there, wonder what they were fined for…I shop there as well, not so happy about that.
From CBC:
Nine U.S. companies that make, import or sell children’s products agreed to pay more than $500,000 US in penalties for violating a federal lead paint ban, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said Tuesday.
The products, which were recalled in 2007 and 2008, included toys, children’s metal jewelry, metal water bottles, pens, pencil pouches, sunglasses, and Halloween pails and baskets.
Tests showed that paint or surface coatings contained lead in excess of 600 ppm, or 0.06 per cent by weight. One company’s products contained surface coatings with nearly 60 per cent lead, said the CPSC.
A 1978 federal ban prohibits toys and other children’s articles from having more than 0.06 per cent lead in paints or surface coatings. Lead can be toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health consequences.
CPSC has ordered the following firms to pay civil penalties to the federal government:
- Cardinal Distributing Co. Inc., of Baltimore, Md.: $100,000
- Dollar General Corp., of Goodlettsville, Tenn.: $100,000
- Family Dollar Stores Inc., of Matthews, N.C.: $75,000
- Hobby Lobby Stores Inc., of Oklahoma City, Okla.: $50,000
- First Learning Company Ltd., of Hong Kong: $50,000
- Michaels Stores Inc., of Irving, Texas, $45,000
- A&A Global Industries Inc., of Cockeysville, Md.: $40,000
- Raymond Geddes & Co, of Baltimore, Md.: $40,000
- Downeast Concepts Inc., of Yarmouth, Maine: $30,000