Product Recall: SpongeBob SquarePants Address Books and Journals
Categories: Health & safety
It seems that lead paint isn't just for toys anymore. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Martin Designs, Inc. have announced a voluntary recall of SpongeBob SquarePants Address Books and Journals. The little books have excessive amounts of lead in the paint on the spiral bindings, of all places.
About 250,000 of these books were sold in retail stores nationwide from June 2006 to July 2007 for about $2 each. There are six different books involved in the recall, all featuring SpongeBob SquarePants on the front and black metal spiral bindings on the edge. The UPC numbers for the address books are 80773007505, UPC numbers for the journals are 80773002260. These numbers can be found printed on the back covers.
If you have them, get rid of them. But first, remove the UPC and contact Martin Designs for a full refund. You can reach them at (866) 898-0261 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit their Web site.
Do you think that Chinese manufacturers are using more lead paint in products these days, or are we just becoming more aware of it?
About 250,000 of these books were sold in retail stores nationwide from June 2006 to July 2007 for about $2 each. There are six different books involved in the recall, all featuring SpongeBob SquarePants on the front and black metal spiral bindings on the edge. The UPC numbers for the address books are 80773007505, UPC numbers for the journals are 80773002260. These numbers can be found printed on the back covers.
If you have them, get rid of them. But first, remove the UPC and contact Martin Designs for a full refund. You can reach them at (866) 898-0261 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit their Web site.
Do you think that Chinese manufacturers are using more lead paint in products these days, or are we just becoming more aware of it?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ian 8-23-2007 @ 6:15AM
I do not think that more lead paint is being used, but I think that we are becoming more aware of it and additional testing is being performed. I read yesterday that the NZ government has ordered a test of all imported clothing after a shipment was found to include contain dangerous levels of formaldehyde -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6956764.stm
In another story, the Australian and New Zealand have recalls blankets that also contain formaldehyde -
http://www.smh.com.au/news/WORLD/Blankets-recalled-over-formaldehyde/2007/08/22/1187462306323.html
I think that we are uncovering the cost cutting that Chinese manufacturers are using to win western companies business. Only time will tell if this has long term damage to the reputation of China as the leading manufacturing nation. Perhaps a resurgence in 'Made in USA' will be a good thing.
Ian
http://babyrecommend.com/
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Teresa 8-23-2007 @ 9:50PM
I think we all need to make more of an effort to buy American, if for no other reason than to send the message to American corporations that we demand higher standards than the stuff we're getting from China. Blame the American companies for outsourcing our jobs, exploiting cheap labor, and then continuing to charge high prices to the American consumer while making record profits. For an extensive list of AMERICAN toy companies, brands and products, with tons of clickable links to American toy companies, please check out my website, www.toysmadeinamerica.com. Corporations may be outsourcing American jobs and making record profits, but we can all still at least make an effort to buy American.
Teresa
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Belinda 8-26-2007 @ 8:31PM
Well, I am glad I decided against buy one of these for my 16 year old sister and the journal for my two year old daughter (coloring books, she LOVES Spongebob).
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DC 10-14-2007 @ 1:16PM
Has anyone considered that this may be some sort of attack from China? I agree with the person that said we all need to make an effort to buy American. Support the American worker, since that is what YOU are (if you live in America, of course).
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