Terry Goddard Offers Tips for Avoiding Lead in Toys

(Phoenix, Ariz. - Nov. 25, 2009) Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard today urged parents and anyone buying toys for children this holiday season to take steps to avoid toys contaminated with potentially dangerous levels of lead. 

Last year, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office reached a multi-state settlement with Mattel, Inc. and its subsidiary Fisher-Price, Inc., to protect children from lead in popular toys.  The agreement required Mattel to implement strict new limits on the amount of lead allowed in children’s toys, to notify the state Attorneys General if it finds that lead levels in any of its products exceed state or federal law, and to work with the Attorneys General to remedy any such violations. 

Recently, the California Attorney General announced that the following products were found to have excessive lead in violation of California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986: 

  • Kids Poncho sold by Walmart, 677 ppm. 
  • MSY Faded Glory Rebecca Shoes sold by Walmart, 1,331 ppm. 
  • Reversible Croco Belt sold by Target, 4,270 ppm. 
  • Dora the Explorer Activity Tote sold by TJ Maxx, 2,348 ppm. 
  • Paula Fuschia Open-Toed Shoes sold by Sears, 3,957 ppm. 
  • Disney Fairies Silvermist's Water Lily Necklace sold by Walgreens, 22,000 ppm. 
  • Barbie Bike Flair Accessory Kit sold by Tuesday Morning, 6,196 ppm.  

Following Monday’s recall of more than one million cribs, Goddard also warns consumers to remain cautious when purchasing products for children and offered the following tips to anyone shopping for a children’s product or toy:

  • Visit www.recalls.gov before purchasing children’s products to ensure the item has not been recalled.
  • Check the manufacturer’s suggested age restrictions.
  • Visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Web site, www.cpsc.gov , to sign up for regular recall notice emails.  

 If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, please contact the Attorney General's Office in Phoenix at 602.542.5763; in Tucson at 520.628.6504; or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at 1.800.352.8431.  To file a complaint in person, the Attorney General’s Office has satellite offices throughout the state with volunteers available to help. Locations and hours of operation are posted on the Attorney General’s Web site at www.azag.gov . Consumers can also file complaints online by visiting the Attorney General's Web site.