Toys "R" Us Recalls Bibs Over Lead Threat

(AP)  Toys "R" Us Inc. on Friday said it was removing all vinyl baby bibs from its Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us stores as a precaution after two bibs made in China for one supplier showed lead levels that exceeded Toys "R" Us standards.

Toys "R" Us, which operates over 1,500 stores, said the result came in testing this month of bibs supplied by Hamco Inc. and marketed under the Koala Baby, Especially for Baby and Disney Baby labels.

The Toys "R" Us move involves about 160,000 vinyl bibs, including some in its warehouses. Nearly 90 percent of the bibs are from Hamco, and all of them were made in China, Toys "R" Us spokeswoman Kathleen Waugh said.

Tests of Hamco bibs in May were within standards, Toys "R" Us said.

Vinyl bibs made by other companies have been temporarily removed to avoid any confusion among customers and allow further testing, Wayne-based Toys "R" Us said.

A message seeking comment from Hamco, based in Gonzales, La., was not immediately returned.

Childhood exposure to lead can cause learning problems, reduced intelligence, hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder, studies have shown.

Toys "R" Us, the second-largest U.S. toy seller after Wal-Mart Stores Inc., said customers can return any vinyl bib purchased from a Toys "R" Us or Babies "R" Us store for a full refund. Customers with questions or additional information may call [phone].

The bib removal is the latest in a series of recent problems involving imports from China. Products including tires, toys, toothpaste, seafood and pet food have been recalled.

The action by Toys "R" Us came two days after the Center for Environmental Health, a California environmental group, said that some vinyl bibs made in China and sold at Toys "R" Us stores contained lead levels well above federal safety limits for lead in paint.

Toys "R" Us has said its May tests were prompted by Wal-Mart's decision that month to recall lead-tainted vinyl bibs from its stores nationwide. Wal-Mart's recall came after a lawsuit brought by the Center for Environmental Health, the California group.

Both the bibs sold by Wal-Mart and Toys "R" Us were manufactured in China for Hamco.

A statement issued by Hamco at the time of the Wal-Mart recall did not address whether their bibs contained lead but quoted an industry trade group statement suggesting that the risk of babies ingesting lead even if the bibs were tainted was slight.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a statement in May saying that the lead-contaminated bibs were safe if in good condition. But if a bib "deteriorates to the point that a baby could pull or bite off and swallow a piece of vinyl containing lead, then the amounts of lead consumed could approach levels of concern," the agency said.

[dragonmouse-2009]

It doesn''t seem to really matter what China does. Apparently we''re still using them. And as far as "cheap goods"...remember that many of the "premium" high dollar pet foods were involved in the recall. It''s not always the "cheap" goods causing a problem.

I really wish we could get manufactures to just give the finger to China and quit using them. But that''s just not gonna happen.

[tcoleman12]

Right on, Koko98... I''m going to start making my baby bibs myself out of tree bark and banana leaves. That should do it, and be Eco-friendly at the same time.

And you can do something about that German aspirin company...Don''t buy their Aspirin.

[grumpas]

The reason we are flooded with this inferior *** is the American people. Most do not look for quality just quantity. They shop at the cheapest places like Wal Mart and have made them conglomerates. They bad mouth unions. You try and find something in the store that isn''t made in China or Mexico. It is impossible. That''s why this country is in such a mess. That''s exactly what the American people have wanted for years.

[mythoughtsr]

Like I''ve said before, don''t buy the garbage in the big box stores. Be a discriminating shopper and start at http://www.madeinusa.org/ I have no affiliation with them whatsoever but you bet I start looking for things for my family there. There are lots of links out there to look for. Keep America thriving and not the sweat shops. I don''t buy clothes from overseas either. Only American MADE companies. Choke their income, don''t let them profit. They are killing us and our pets. When is the US going to take quality over profit? Never. But you can take a stand.

[starleo146]

Posted by carolrhill at 06:17 PM : Aug 18, 2007
+ report abuse

Lead paint was used on all our houses in days past they discontinued it because they found it was not leaving our system and the little kids had high doses. Old houses have to be treated and the lead paint removed before you can sell it.

[starleo146]

Posted by GrammaWhamma at 03:26 PM : Aug 18, 2007

I don''t know for sure but it is management and sub contractors so they say and the people working just do as they are told for $1.00 a day.Some work 15 hrs a day. I am not sure about there salary I was just trying to be a little funny. They do not make much or our companies who left us flat wouldn''t be there for cheap labor.

[carolrhill]

I was thinking about all these recalls because of lead. When I was growing-up I just have to wonder about how much lead were in the things we all used and played with in those days nothing that I know of was really tested and there were a lot of things that were made in China. Is China using more lead paint now or what?
I think in those days they did not realize that lead was dangerous.
The way I look at it if parents are watching their children a little closer the worry would not be so bad.
I realize that the parents cannot be everywhere but they just need to watch their children to make sure what they are doing and not doing.

[starleo146]

Will there be any safe toys this Christmas to buy for kids?
Posted by shanev137 at 03:16 AM : Aug 18, 2007

If they are not made in China ask first.I think the stores should separate the goods by country any way it would be so much easier shopping we can just walk by China.

[starleo146]

If this government doesn''t do anything about this we can, we do not buy one thing from China I realize that is just about everything but to show these companies we can make a difference. Ask where ever we go are these goods from China if they say yes walk away they will get the message and Walmart and all these companies will feel it right where it hurts in the pocketbook. Bush can protect these companies but we do not have to. Walmart gets just about everything from China and the employees over her that work for them get nothing that is why they are in favor of immigration once AGAIN cheap labor

[starleo146]

You know I really do not care how many chinese kill themselves over bad manufactured goods. What I do care is these companies go to China so they do not have to worry about regulations that America puts on these companies here in this country, they want cheap labor not quality cheap labor and then ship the goods to us and they sell it for a big profit. So you see tell it like it is MONEY, MONEY o.k. capitalism but is it right that the consumer division only has 100 employees to take care of all shipments into this country. Where is this Homeland security, why did they lay off so many people they wanted Dubai to handle our Ports. There are so many fr----problems and we just ignore it what is wrong with us send it all back and fine the h*eLL out of these wonderful American companies that don''t care if they stick it to us. They knew Xmas is coming so they relaxed and our children will pay the price and they will make the profit. So what are you going to do because our government doesn''t give a hoot they have been caring about companies over people since 2000.God knows what chemicals are in the clothing, the food is contaminated what the h*e*l*l are we doing.Send the S*H*I*t back all of it.