Toys 'R' Us pulls vinyl bibs over lead problems

[WA98296]

Quote:

(AP) -- Toys "R" Us Inc. on Friday said it was removing all vinyl baby bibs from its Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us stores as a precaution after two bibs made in China for one supplier showed lead levels that exceeded Toys "R" Us standards.

Toys "R" Us, which operates over 1,500 stores, said the result came in testing this month of bibs supplied by Hamco Inc. and marketed under the Koala Baby, Especially for Baby and Disney Baby labels.

Source:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/17/tainted.bibs.ap/index.html

[Mythsaje]

1. Ah, geez. Does it ever stop? n/t

[knight_of_the_star]

2. One of the things they don't talk about as a benefit of outsourcing

Sure it costs corporations less on the bottom line, but they seem to have forgotten one of the most basic rules of economics:

You get what you pay for. And when you buy stuff on the cheap you get stuff that is cheap.

[SoCalDem]

3. I used to make my kids' bibs.. easy as pie and CHEAP

all you need is a fingertip towel..

fold the top down 1/3.. cut a semi circle (to fit the neck) and finish the neck curve with wide bias tape, (long enough for ties)..

I used to sew on an applique on a corner, and on some , I used the rubber sheeting material (cloth with rubber between) for the backing..

I always gave these as shower gifts.. Lots of great colors for the towels, and infinitely washable & indestructible :)

[Canuckistanian]

4. Silly question here

But why do baby bibs contain lead in the first place?

Is there some vinyl production process that requires a poisonous heavy metal?

[WA98296]

5. I'm guessing that it is the "painted" characters on the bibs, but that's just a guess.

[pepperbear]

6. and exactly how much money did this manufacturer save by using lead based paint...

5, maybe 10 cents a unit?

[fasttense]

7. So a few children will have permanent brain damage

and neurological disorders from toxic heavy metals. Their lower IQs will make for a more passive and willing labor force. It is a small price to pay for a free market and globalization. :sarcasm: