On March 11, 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a warning concerning high levels of the toxic metal cadmium found in charm bracelets marketed for children. A recall could not be issued because the company, Buy-Rite Designs, Inc., is no longer in business.
The safety alert affects all Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Bumble Snowman children’s charm bracelets that were sold in discount and dollar stores nationwide from 2006 through March 2009. The bracelets contained snowman, Christmas tree, candy cane, and snowflake charms.
Consumers are urged to immediately take the bracelets away from children and dispose of the jewelry to prevent injury. A laboratory analysis of the bracelets revealed that each bracelet contained more than 20,000 micrograms of cadmium, a chemical that can be toxic if ingested by young children and can lead to kidney or bone damage.
The manufacturer of the bracelets, Buy-Rite Designs, Inc., imported the bracelets from China and was the subject of two separate charm bracelet recalls in 2007 due to high lead content.
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