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August 8, 2006

Summer Reading Product Safety Alert

Attention libraries participating in this year's Statewide Summer Reading Program! Please read the following press release, forwarded to the NJYAC listserv by Bonnie Kunzel, regarding the safety of certain toys recommended by the Summer Reading Cooperative.

The toys in question are the bendable cat and dog toys, which apparently have too-high lead content. Read on if you have been giving out these toys at your library!

August 8, 2006

Highsmith has recently learned that a sample of Bendable Cat and Dog toys tested by the Indiana State Department of Health indicated the lead content to be in excess of the maximum allowable by current federal regulations.

We at Highsmith support all libraries in their notification of patrons regarding this product. Highsmith will issue a credit or refund for all sales of this product. Customers should call 1-800-448-4887 to arrange for their credit or refund or to return product.

The Bendable sample that was tested was purchased from a supplier other than Highsmith. However, that supplier sourced the product from the same wholesaler that Highsmith used. On October 14, 2005, prior to distributing these toys through the Collaborative Summer Library Program, Intertek Testing Services tested the Bendable that was to be distributed by Highsmith. The test reported that the Bendable was in compliance with the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 16, Section 1303. This section of the code stipulates that lead may constitute no more that .06% of the weight of the paint applied to a toy. Highsmith has documentation of this test in its possession.

Highsmith is currently having samples of its Bendable inventory tested by Analytical Process Laboratories Inc., a testing laboratory in Milwaukee, WI. The results of this test will be known on Wednesday, August 9, 2006, and released promptly. The Indiana State Department of Health has also agreed to retest a sample from the Highsmith inventory and those results will be shared promptly.

For more information on the hazards of lead, visit:

http://www.cpsc.gov/BUSINFO/leadguid.html or http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/publications/PrevLeadPoisoning.pdf

Any questions should be directed to Matt Mulder, Director, Highsmith Publications at mmulder@highsmith.com or (920) 563-9571 x381.

Posted by at 7:39 PM | Comments (0)
Category: Statewide Summer Reading