Reebok recalls bracelet after lead poisoning kills Minnesota boy

[proud2BlibKansan]

By DAVID HAWLEY
St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press

By the time he was rushed to a Minneapolis hospital last month, 4-year-old Jarnell Brown had a fatal amount of poison in his bloodstream — a result of swallowing a heart-shaped bracelet charm that was almost solid lead.

On Thursday, authorities announced that Reebok International is recalling 300,000 of the charm bracelets that, since 2004, have been given to buyers of children's shoes in stores across the country. The silver-colored charm engraved with the Reebok name is attached to the 8-inch bracelet.

The boy's mother, Juanna Graham of Minneapolis, said Jarnell was a playful boy who fell ill with what doctors initially thought was the flu.

"He was just hollering and screaming all the time," she said. "He just did not know what was causing it."

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/14177452.htm

[NV Whino]

1. Good God!

Reebok is in for one doozy of a lawsuit.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Ya think?

[Canuckistanian]

3. Who the hell makes trinkets made of solid lead?

My God, in a world where lead is being gradually eliminated by law and by common sense, why does this happen?

They deserve whatever lawsuit that's coming their way.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Yep I agree

[Blue Diadem]

17. It gets imported. There'salso a recall for kids necklaces &zipper pulls

that have lead content.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/recalls04/2005/necklaces.html

It's scarey..I bought one of the necklaces for my granddaughter a few years ago. I don't know what the manufacturers are thinking..but it seems they just don't care until they get caught.

[Skinner]

4. Man, Reebok really fucked up.

They gave away solid lead charm bracelets to buyers of children's shoes? What morons.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. When I think of how much my school alone has done

to alert our parents to the dangers of lead, and all the screenings we do every year to see which kids have lead poisoning, this just sends me over the edge to see Reebok giving lead to kids. Yes, it is truly morAnic.

[paul_fromatlanta]

10. We've got to ask "why"

What could possibly be the logic... Lead isn't pretty. It isn't cheaper. And its too soft to be good for jewelry.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. It's gotta be money

It must be cheaper to make this jewelry out of lead.

[paul_fromatlanta]

15. Yeah, maybe you can stamp it easier since its soft

I wouldn't be durable but its for kids so maybe they didn't care.

[acmavm]

5. It was made of lead? A charm to be worn next to the skin was made of

lead? A small piece of jewelry that could 'foreseeably' be swallowed by a little kid was made of lead?

That's just stupid.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. It's infuriating isn't it?

[Pugee]

6. This is scary.

As there are few, if any, inspectors or rules in foreign companies, lots of items are on our shelves now that are made of lead or pewter.

At Christmas, my mom bought a small decorated tree about a foot high. Upon closer inspection, the small print stated that the tree was coated in lead. Having young grandkids around, my mom took it back to WM, who refunded her money, but refused to take the trees off the shelves. I wonder how common this is. Since then, I have noticed other things that were supposedly not in childrens items like pewter, lead, and even liquid mercury in a necklace (it was recalled also)

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. Yes it is scary

I have taught many kids who were victims of lead poisoning. Its effects are NOT pretty.

Welcome to DU :hi:

[DUHandle]

19. Merry Christmas

I bought a set of lights before Christmas.

The little tag said CONTAINS LEAD.

They were made in China.

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. Keep them away from small children

[HysteryDiagnosis]

22. I was about to say..... CHINA.... note that they may even put leaded

glaze on their cookware.... NOT GOOD PEOPLE.

[Zookeeper]

11. I just read that the "mood" rings and charms sold at....

the Dollar Tree have a high lead content. Apparently, they are made in China which doesn't have any regulations regarding lead. Sometimes U.S. firms order items from China expecting a certain kind of metal, but end up with lead because of the low price.

www.startribune.com

"U.S. recalls more lead-based toy jewelry."

To me this is just another example of what happens when business is unregulated and health and safety concerns aren't adequately monitored.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. More info from article:

In a separate action Thursday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said about 580,000 necklace and ring sets imported by Dollar Tree Distribution also were being recalled because of a lead poisoning danger.

The agency said the silver-colored, adjustable rings come in a variety of designs with a toy "gem" in the center. The necklaces have a black string with silver-colored clasps and a silver-colored charm with a "gem" in the center.

The jewelry was sold in packages printed with "Mood Necklace," "Mood Ring," "Glow in the Dark Necklace," "Glow in the Dark Ring," "UV Necklace" or "UV Ring" on the packaging. Printed on the back of the packaging was "SKU#815485" and the name "Mannix," authorities reported.

The jewelry was sold at Dollar Tree, Dollar Bills, Dollar Express, Greenbacks, Only $1 and Super Dollar Tree stores from September 2003 until last month, the safety commission reported.

[paul_fromatlanta]

16. I found an article indicating its a widespread problem

http://www.cehca.org/jewelry.htm

"Major Retailers Agree to Eliminate Lead Risks from Children’s Jewelry
January 27, 2006

Seventy-One Companies Join Precedent-Setting Agreement to Protect Children’s Health

The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) announced today that major retailers of children’s jewelry, including Target, Kmart, Macy’s, Nordstroms, Claires, Mervyns, Sears, Toys R Us, Disney and dozens of other companies have agreed to eliminate lead exposure risks from jewelry marketed to children and adults. The legal settlement calls for the companies to take swift action to end sales of lead-containing jewelry in California by reformulating their products. The landmark agreement with seventy-one companies creates the first legally binding standards for lead in jewelry in the nation."

[Lars39]

18. That reminds me of radioactive metal being recycled...link:

http://www.nirs.org/press/04-29-1999/1

[O.M.B.inOhio]

21. A Free(p) Market advocate would say...

"If the company kills enough children or cause them brain damage from lead trinkets, those parents will not buy from that company again, and the company will respond. The Market corrects itself. No need for health regulations to be imposed or any oversight of products whatsoever."

Oh, the grief! May the execs at Reebok who let this happen feel such heartache every day of their lives!

[Ilsa]

23. Has the Rethuglican Congress stopped punitive damages on these

situations yet?

I can hear Reebok's cost-benefit analysis now: "Let's see, we only make $100,000,000 without the bracelets. With the leaded charm bracelets, we sell twice as many, and make an extra $95,000,000, with $2 million for the bracelets, and $3 million for the lawsuits. Isn't this Rethuglican Congress wonderful for business?"