Baby bibs sold at Wal-Mart recalled... (high levels of lead)

[catgirl]

Source: AP

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The discovery of lead in the fabric of a brand of baby bibs sold at Wal-Mart Stores has resulted in a recall of the items, the company said.

ADVERTISEMENT

The bibs, sold under the Baby Connection brand name, came in packs of two to seven bibs, with embroidered prints or images of Sesame Street characters. Some were sold as long ago as 2004. The bibs were made by Hamco Inc. exclusively for the Bentonville-based retailer.

Mia Masten, a Chicago-based spokeswoman for Wal-Mart, said the vinyl portion of the bibs exceeded the lead levels set by Illinois for children's products. She said the company had worked with the Illinois attorney general's office to pull the items and later decided to expand the recall nationwide.

Masten said about 60,000 of the bib bundles were sold in Illinois without any reported injuries.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070503/ap_on_bi_ge/wal_mart_baby_bibs

---

Funny, the retailer and the manufacturer are both referring calls to each other.

[shaniqua6392]

1. I have three words for you......

MADE IN CHINA.

[Lochloosa]

2. Damn...beat me to it.

[xultar]

5. I was gonna just do one word but yours says it best.

[Matariki]

22. starts to make you wonder if they're trying to kill us slowly...

or someone has a vested interest in a society that is AFRAID OF EVERYTHING.

[brentspeak]

28. Made in...you guessed it right

I was in a computer store yesterday. Almost everything there was "made in China". Cheap plastic junk, in their blister packs.

[benEzra]

3. How about this gem from the Wal-Mart spokesperson...

Masten said about 60,000 of the bib bundles were sold in Illinois without any reported injuries.

Lead-based paints don't cause "injures"; they cause slow poisoning.

Yes, I'm sure there have been no "injuries" from the bibs.

FWIW, I wonder if this is another reflection of Wal-Mart's obsession with outsourcing the manufacture of everything to fly-by-night industries outside the United States, along the lines of the recent dog food poisonings.

[LiberalFighter]

4. Chinese are trying to kill our children

Hmmm should I be serious or sarcastic?

[shaniqua6392]

7. Not to mention the pet food recall....

which has grown more every day. They have just added a huge list of foods to the recall today. I did find the story on MSNBC.com website. This crap from China has been fed to our chickens and hogs that are now in the food chain. But the FDA says the amounts of melamine in the meat "shouldn't" harm any humans. Gee...That is so comforting.

[cosmicdot]

12. expanded recall due to 'cross-contamination'

likely from not cleaning equipment between jobs

Menu Foods Recall Expands Dramatically Due to Cross-Contamination
http://www.itchmo.com/read/breaking-news-menu-foods-recall-expands-dramatically-due-to-cross-contamination_20070502

[treestar]

32. But do we really know if they are any worse than anyone other

country, since we have no data on such recalls proportionate to countries.

[Shallah Kali]

38. 1 recent article said of the 1% of imports inspected w/the most blocked were from China

followed, iirc, by India.

one article - the FDA detained 850 shipments for everything from 'filth' to pesticides to salmonilla:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/health/sfl-afood17apr17,0,6358332.story

another one says it was over 1,000 shipments blocked in March:

http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/22037

In March, FDA inspectors rejected 1,526 shipments _ mostly food but also drugs and medical devices _ from 75 countries.

China had 215 rejected shipments and India 279. A shipment of "Chilli" powder from Bangladesh was ruled "to consist in whole or in part of a filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance or be otherwise unfit for food."

Also most of the world's vitamins are made in China:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=785960&mesg_id=791007

U.S. must address risk of untraceable, low-quality food ingredients from China
http://www.twincities.com/opinion/ci_5733539

That it was pet food that got tainted - and that relatively few pets were harmed - is pure happenstance. Earlier this spring, Europe narrowly averted disaster when a batch of vitamin A from China was found to be contaminated with Enterobacter sakazakii, which has been proved to cause infant deaths. Thankfully, the defective vitamin A had not yet been incorporated into infant formula. Next time we may not be so fortunate.

Currently, most of the world's vitamins are manufactured in China. Unable to compete, the last U.S. plant making vitamin C closed a year ago. One of Europe's largest citric acid plants shut last winter, and only one vitamin C manufacturer operates in the West. Given China's cheap labor, artificially low prices and the unfair competitive climate it has foisted on the industry, few Western producers of food ingredients can survive much longer.

Western companies have had to invest heavily in Chinese facilities. These Western-owned plants follow strict standards and are generally better managed than their locally owned counterparts. Nevertheless, 80 percent of the world's vitamin C is now manufactured in China - much of it unregulated and some of it of questionable quality.

SNIP

To protect consumers here, we must revise our regulatory approaches. The first option is to institute regulations, based on the European model, to ensure that all food ingredients are thoroughly traceable. We should impose strict liability on manufacturers that fail to enforce traceability standards.

The above was written by a former head of NutraSweet. When someone associated with THAT stuff is worried it makes me really :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared:

[truthisfreedom]

6. "without any reported injuries." Except for the fact that lead poisoning takes a while to show up

and can manifest itself as other things unless it's specifically tested for.

We as a nation are beginning to develop a distaste for the reckless way the Chinese manufacturers are handling our health. It's probably going to result in a rejection of all food products and baby items by a lot of consumers!

[rasputin1952]

9. I try to not buy anything that was made in China...it's tough but

doable.

The coffee mugs have large amounts of lead, as do many other items from there. It is as if they could care less about anything they sell to us, as long as they make a profit...(hmmmm...wonder where THAT idea came from...:eyes: )

The constant fight for profit at the cost to the consumer, regardless of that cost, is one of the more repulsive aspects of "pure" capitalism. The huge profit margins drive the rich to the doors right to the gates of hell...and we follow, how sad is that...:(

[candice]

13. Lead in our vitamins, garden hoses, and kids' lunchboxes...

Most of our vitamin manufacturing has gone to China, with its polluted soil, water, and air. What were these companies who supposedly are marketing a healthy product thinking? Of course, the labeling doesn't indicate that the ingredients are from China. I'm tossing out what I have and not taking any more until I can find out where the stuff comes from. Germany has very high standards. This is a bazillion dollar industry that is cheating the consumer.

Washington Po article of 4/29/07


http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660215681,00.html

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, has deplored dangerous levels of lead in vitamin products originating in China.

Currently, most of the world's vitamins are manufactured in China. Unable to compete, the last U.S. plant making vitamin C closed a year ago. One of Europe's largest citric acid plants shut last winter, and only one vitamin C manufacturer operates in the West. Given China's cheap labor, artificially low prices and the unfair competitive climate it has foisted on the industry, few Western producers of food ingredients can survive much longer.
Western companies have had to invest heavily in Chinese facilities. These Western-owned plants follow strict standards and are generally better managed than their locally owned counterparts. Nevertheless, 80 percent of the world's vitamin C is now manufactured in China — much of it unregulated and some of it of questionable quality.

[rasputin1952]

16. Not too long ago, I read of where some Chinese firm had

marketed an herbal remedy for anxiety selling here in the US. I can't recall the name of the substance, but it was found to be sprayed w/a liquid form of diazepam, (Valium), allowed to dry and chopped up and sold as the "herbal medication". Biggest problem was, the amount of diazepam in each batch was no where near consistent, and people were getting into accidents and mishaps. None that i know of died, but if a kid got a hold of this stuff, and there was a mega-dose in what he/she took, it could have been catastrophic...x(

I have to say, the winners are the Chinese, at least financially, they are hysterical with joy at their new experiment of "pure" Capitalism w/o any oversight.

[candice]

20. How do you know that the mugs have lead?

I've been drinking from these mugs!

[rasputin1952]

25. About a year ago the NYT's came out w/the story that the

clay the Chinese were using for their ceramics were way over the limit for anything that could be fired here in the US. The story went on to say that as long as the glazing stayed on the cup/dish/plate, there was a minimal chance of overexposure. But, if there was a chipping/cracking, the chances increased dramatically at lead exposure over what is considered "safe".

I avoid the Chinese materials because of several reasons, but the lead content adds to the list.

[Shallah Kali]

37. Microwaving things with toxins in the glazing brings out more of the toxin

I have actually yelled at people to stop when they go to put a mug in the microwave and normally I am very shy. It isn't worth the risk so get a pyrex or similar measuring cup that's plain glass made in the USA (not that we're prefect, just better than china) to warm up coffee etc. in the microwave.

[rasputin1952]

39. I didn't know there were toxins in the glazing...

Thanks for the heads up. I knew there was stuff in the clay, buit the glazing too...:scared:

[Shallah Kali]

43. Toxins like lead in the glazing leach out in acid foods or when heated - link

http://www.dhs.ca.gov/childlead/tableware/prop65.html

5. How does lead get from dishes into the body?

Lead can leach out from the surface of the dish and get into foods orbeverages. Then, when the food is eaten, the lead gets into the body.

The amount of lead that leaches from a dish depends on how the dish is used and what kind of food is put in it.

For example:

* Acid foods and drinks will leach lead out of dishes much faster than non-acid foods. Spaghetti sauce, salsa, soy sauce, orange juice, applesauce, coffee, tea, cola drinks, and salad dressing are examples of acid foods.

* If you aren't sure about the lead in your dishes, you should not use them for storing food. The longer the food stays in contact with a dish surface that contains lead, the more lead will be leached into the food.

* Heating up food in a lead-containing dish can speed up the lead-leaching process.

A combination of these factors will make the problem even worse. An example would be storing spaghetti in a lead-containing ceramic dish and then heating it in the microwave.

and don't forget plastics can be dangerous in the microwave. Don't use anything that isn't marked microwave safe. If you want to be extra careful only reheat or thaw things in a glass container like pyrex, anchor hocking. I have yet to read of lead, arsenic or other toxin leaching from glass....

actually some are very very concerned about leaching of chemicals from plastics like BPA - even without heating. A study showing BPA leaching from 5 brands of baby bottles has parents switching back to glass baby bottles:

Parents edgy over plastic turn to glass baby bottles
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003687979_bottles01.html

At issue is bisphenol A, or BPA. It is used in making hard polycarbonate plastic, which is clear and shatterproof. It is used to make plastic baby bottles, microwave cookware, food packaging and many other products.

BPA can leach from polycarbonate plastic, and the chemical is found in most people's blood. Federal regulators have taken no action to restrict its use, and the plastics industry says it is safe.

However, the chemical mimics the sex hormone estrogen. In tests on animal fetuses and animal newborns, low doses caused reproductive harm, including damage that can lead to prostate disease, breast cancer and birth defects.

Many scientists suspect BPA can have similar effects on humans, although this has not been proved

[Critters2]

40. I do, too. There are some sites that are helpful.

Like this: wwww.boycottmadeinchina.org

[VegasWolf]

8. How can you tell if lead has affected baby FReepers? nt

[skooooo]

10. WTF is happening to our country???

I don't think this used to happen at all in the 80s and 90s -- finding lead in toys and children's products?? I thought we'd gotten past that.

[jgraz]

15. Welcome to the 27th year of conservative rule

[shanti]

23. in a word?

NAFTA

[heliarc]

11. Maybe they were trying to protect our children...

From Nuclear Radiation.

[jgraz]

14. The better to keep your melamine-laced food off your slave-labor clothes

[AlCzervik]

17. are they baby xray bibs?

[Critters2]

41. lol!! nt

[burrowowl]

42. LOL!

:rofl:

Yes clay glazed pottery can contain lead. Mexico cracked down on this long ago. Beans do taste better cooked in a clay pot.

[zbdent]

18. You know, Wal-Mart, under Sam, was originally concerned with

selling AMERICAN MADE GOODS ... but didn't Sam die in 1992, and his family decided that the bottom line was really important to their inheritances?

[candice]

19. but Sam didn't care about keeping communities intact...

WalMarts have contributed to the destruction of small-town American shops.

[kath]

21. NO mention is made as to what country these bibs ( or the fabric) were manufactured in.

How interesting.
Could it be CHINA?? Poisoning our food, poisoning our babies...

[TommyO]

24. Found another article linking the bibs to China

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/03/business/bibs.php

Lead, used as a stabilizer in vinyl plastic, can be "easily substituted" for other products, Engelman said. She said the bibs' manufacturing tags show they were made in China.

[StarryNite]

26. Why the f*ck are we

importing anything from China anymore?! Seriously, we all need to boycott anything that comes from that hell hole.

[kimmerspixelated]

27. It's a catch -22 isn't it?

We owe them tons of money!

[StarryNite]

29. shrub made a deal with the devil

and now we are all paying for it. :evilgrin:

[treestar]

33. What about that most favored nation status for China, though?

I mean, this might actually BE Clinton's fault. :hide:

[depakid]

30. Note that the original article OMITS the fact that they were made in China

Typical corporate media behavior.

Of course, that fact is NOT omitted in publications abroad.

See, e.g. Wal-Mart recalls lead-laced baby bibs from China

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/03/business/bibs.php

[treestar]

31. I noticed that and was about to comment that the article didn't say that

Interesting that it is part of the headline for the International Tribune.

[Telly Savalas]

34. They said the products were sold at Wal Mart.

Saying they were made in China is just being redundant.

[onehandle]

35. Buy up, 'mericans.

Trust Wal-Mart, suckers.

[hedgehog]

36. Babies love to suck and gum on things like a smooth vinyl

edging on their bibs. It just makes me sick thinking about it.

[kaygore]

44. You get what you pay for at Wal-Mart and you get the satisfaction of destroying America

To save a few dollars, anyone who shops at Wal-Mart probably deserves what they get and being poisoned is one of the things that they risk.

Wal-Mart has been a leader in manipulating Congress and the administration into eviscerating laws that protect our health and the health of the economy.

Welcome to the Wal-Mart nation!

[tomreedtoon]

45. The lead's just shielding us from the radiation.

They don't check container ships for radiation, remember? Those lead bibs are a kindness the Chinese are showing our youngest consumers, to shield them from the radiation in the plastic, ceramic and food products they also sell us.