AP © US regulators have found high levels of the toxic metal cadmium in trinkets distributed free to children at some doctor and dentist offices over the past five years.
The news follows the country's Consumer Product Safety Commission recall of nearly 70,000 charm bracelets and rings.
It is the fourth time this year that the federal government has ordered that cheap Chinese-made jewellery be pulled from shelves because of cadmium, a known carcinogen.
Cadmium, a heavy metal that accumulates in the body, can cause cancer, developmental and reproductive damage, and other health problems.
The concern is that children can be exposed if they bite and suck on - and in rare cases, even swallow - jewellery containing cadmium.
The commission said parents should immediately throw away any of the approximately 66,200 Children's Happy Charm Bracelets and 2200 rings that have a metal football-shaped charm attached to an adjustable band.
The charm bracelets have coloured beads and a single metal charm shaped like a butterfly, moon or sun.
The agency has not received any reports of incidents or injuries involving either product.
The items were distributed at doctors' and dentists' offices in the US between June 2005 and March 2010, the agency said.
Meanwhile, McDonald's Australia has confirmed there are no problems with its World Cup souvenir glasses, after 12 million Shrek glasses were recalled in the US.
The US-made Shrek glasses were found by the American Consumer Product Safety Commission to have small amounts of cadmium on them.
A spokeswoman for McDonald's Australia said the Shrek glass recall at the beginning of June was in the US and Canada only.
"There is no impact on the FIFA World Cup Coke glass promotion," McDonald's spokeswoman Amy McNaughton said.
"There is no cadmium in these glasses."
For a limited time last month, McDonald's Australia offered a free Coca-Cola glass with every Big Mac or sweet chilli wrap meal.
Recalled Shrek-themed drinking glasses from McDonald's are seen in a handout photo from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. McDonald's has recalled 12 million Shrek-themed drinking glasses after the commission warned consumers to stop using them because they contain the toxic metal cadmium. Cadmium was found in the painted design of the movie characters on the glassware, which McDonald's outlets in the US sold for about $2 each, according to the commission.
Source : The Western Australian
The news follows the country's Consumer Product Safety Commission recall of nearly 70,000 charm bracelets and rings.
It is the fourth time this year that the federal government has ordered that cheap Chinese-made jewellery be pulled from shelves because of cadmium, a known carcinogen.
Cadmium, a heavy metal that accumulates in the body, can cause cancer, developmental and reproductive damage, and other health problems.
The concern is that children can be exposed if they bite and suck on - and in rare cases, even swallow - jewellery containing cadmium.
The commission said parents should immediately throw away any of the approximately 66,200 Children's Happy Charm Bracelets and 2200 rings that have a metal football-shaped charm attached to an adjustable band.
The charm bracelets have coloured beads and a single metal charm shaped like a butterfly, moon or sun.
The agency has not received any reports of incidents or injuries involving either product.
The items were distributed at doctors' and dentists' offices in the US between June 2005 and March 2010, the agency said.
Meanwhile, McDonald's Australia has confirmed there are no problems with its World Cup souvenir glasses, after 12 million Shrek glasses were recalled in the US.
The US-made Shrek glasses were found by the American Consumer Product Safety Commission to have small amounts of cadmium on them.
A spokeswoman for McDonald's Australia said the Shrek glass recall at the beginning of June was in the US and Canada only.
"There is no impact on the FIFA World Cup Coke glass promotion," McDonald's spokeswoman Amy McNaughton said.
"There is no cadmium in these glasses."
For a limited time last month, McDonald's Australia offered a free Coca-Cola glass with every Big Mac or sweet chilli wrap meal.
Recalled Shrek-themed drinking glasses from McDonald's are seen in a handout photo from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. McDonald's has recalled 12 million Shrek-themed drinking glasses after the commission warned consumers to stop using them because they contain the toxic metal cadmium. Cadmium was found in the painted design of the movie characters on the glassware, which McDonald's outlets in the US sold for about $2 each, according to the commission.Source : The Western Australian
