SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – Children’s jewelry with high levels of toxic cadmium has been recalled. Federal safety regulators say they have expanded x-ray screening at the nation’s ports to stop these items from making it to stores. The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of about 19,000 “Best Friends” charm bracelet sets.
The bracelet sets are made in China and sold exclusively at Claire’s stores in the United States. The Associated Press first reported independent test results in January that showed high levels of the heavy metal. The chain subsequently agreed to stop selling them. Claire’s operates more than 3,000 stores in North America and Europe. Today’s additional recall covers items that were sold previously. No injuries have yet been reported.
While the Consumer Product Safety Commission does not release its results, testing done for the AP revealed that bracelets sold at Claire’s contained up to 91 percent cadmium by weight and shed alarming amounts during a test that examined how much cadmium children might be exposed to if they accidentally swallow the charms. In its recall announcement, the CPSC said cadmium is toxic if ingested by children and can cause adverse health effects. Medical research shows that cadmium in high levels is a known carcinogen and can harm kidneys and bones.
The bracelets were sold for about $12. Consumers have been instructed to take the bracelets from the children and return them to Claire’s for a replacement or a refund. Before this year, no consumer product in the United States had been recalled because of cadmium. Representatives of jewelry importers and manufacturers have rejected the idea that children’s metal jewelry is unsafe, said Michael Gale, executive director of the Fashion Jewelry and Accessories Trade Association. Gale has made several announcements to state legislatures that are considering strict limits on cadmium jewelry. He has said that, if those laws pass, it might be impossible to put any lower priced children’s jewelry on store shelves where those laws apply.
Unsafe products can cause injuries to unsuspecting consumers. These unsafe products are particularly alarming when they are marketed to children. Whether the injuries are temporary or permanent, they are nevertheless painful, and treatment of those injuries can leave a victim financially crippled. Although many people do not realize it, consumers are afforded great protection in California, and are entitled to compensation for physical and financial injuries caused by an unsafe or defective product.
The product liability attorneys at Berman & Riedel, LLP have a commanding knowledge of the California law in this area which we will use to help you with you case. If you have been injured by a defective product, contact the firm to set up a consultation free of charge. You can also visit www.bermanlawyers.com to learn more about plaintiff’s product liability law.
