The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued 12 new recalls during the U.S.’s busiest shopping week due to the potential risk of various hazards, including unsafe lead levels, risk of choking or electrical shock, or the potential to cause fire.

High levels of lead contamination are especially dangerous to children. A child who ingests large amounts of lead may develop anemia, severe stomach ache, muscle weakness, and brain damage. Even low levels of lead have been linked to lower IQ scores. Lead contamination in adults can increase blood pressure and cause infertility, nerve disorders, and muscle and joint pain. It can also cause irritability and affect concentration and memory.

RECALLS DUE TO LEAD CONTAMINATION INCLUDE:

Family Dollar Stores recalled approximately 205,000 pieces of Rachel Rose and Distinctly Basics Assorted Metal Jewelry sold at Family Dollar Stores from January 2003 through August 2007 for $.50 and $2.00, and at the Hobby Lobby stores from August 2007 through November 2007 for about $1.00.

The recalled jewelry includes key rings and pins with religious themes (crosses and fish symbols), key rings with “Mom” and cheerleader charms, bracelets with charms like handbags, flip flops, hearts, dresses and flowers, silver-colored rings with designs or stones in a variety of colors, clutchless hoop earrings with decorations such as butterflies, and filigree and long drop earrings with stones in a variety of colors. Consumers should return the recalled jewelry to a Family Dollar store for a full refund or contact Family Dollar Stores at 1-800-547-0359 between 8:30am and 5pm ET, Monday thru Friday or visit familydollar.com.

Discount School Supply recalled approximately 20,000 set of six “shaving-style” 4-inch long brushes. The brushes’ handles are painted blue, purple, orange, yellow, lime green, and pink. The item number printed on the product’s packaging is #SHVBRSH. Recalled brushes also include “BioColor® Foam Paint Starter Kit and “Colorations® Foam Paint Starter Kit.”

The recalled brushes were sold through Discount School Supply’s catalog and website from May 2004 through August 2007 for approximately $5.00. The BioColor® kits were sold from May 2004 through June 2006 for $60.00. The Colorations® kits were sold from July 2006 through August 2007 for $60.00.

Consumers should return the recalled brushes to Discount School Supply to receive a free replacement brush set. Consumers may contact Discount School Supply at 1-800-293-9314 between 6am and 5pm PT, Monday through Friday, visit discountschoolsupply.com or email the company for additional information.

Crystal Innovations Jewelry recalled approximately 200,000 pieces of metal jewelry sold at Michaels Stores from April 2006 through September 2007 for about $5.00. Products included in the recall have SKU numbers that are found on the products’ packaging above the barcode:

• Butterfly Charm SKU# 10369903
• Flip Flop Charm SKU# 10369909
• Heart Crystal Closure SKU# 10391027
• Heart Princess Closure SKU# 10391029
• Seabreeze Clasps SKU# 10391040
• Flower HK Crystal/AB Closure SKU# 10391046
• Flower HK Princess Closure SKU# 10391048
• Flower Rope Seabreeze Toggle SKU# 10391050
• Toggles w/Heart Crystal AB SKU# 10391052
• Toggles w/heart Princess SKU#10391054
• Princess Earring Set SKU# 10391076
• Slider Metal Rectangle Abalone SKU#10369900
• Charm Open Flower SKU# 10370038
• Earring Set Drop Crystal/AB SKU# 10391065
• Earring Set Drop Seabreeze SKU# 10391067
• Flower Charm SKU# 10369907
• Purse-Sunglasses Charm SKU# 10369910
• Heart Seabreeze Closure SKU#10391028
• Crystal/AB Clasps SKU# 10391039
• Princess Clasps SKU# 10391041
• Flower HK Seabreeze Closure SKU# 10391047
• Flower Rope Crystal/AB Toggle SKU# 10391049
• Flower Rope Princess Toggle SKU# 10391051
• Toggles w/heart Seabreeze SKU# 10391053
• Crystal/AB Earring Set SKU# 10391074
• Seabreeze Earring Set SKU# 10391075
• Toggle Bracelet SKU# 10370037
• Charm Open Cross SKU# 10370039
• Earring Set Drop Princess SKU# 10391066

Consumers should return the recalled metal jewelry to the store they purchased for a full refund. Consumers may contact Pure Allure at 1-800-536-6312 between 9am and 4pm PT, Monday through Friday, visit pureallure.com/recall, or [email the company] (mailto:info@pureallure.com) for additional information.

La Femme NY Inc. recalled 4,5000 children’s necklace and earring sets sold at various dollar stores nationwide from October 2005 through April 2007 for about $1.00. The recalled necklace and earring sets have a silver metal chain and a round pendant with a light blue jewel and three jeweled dangling.

Consumers should return the recalled necklace and earring sets to the store where it was purchased for a full refund. Consumers may contact La Femme NY Inc. at 1-866-667-5369 between 8am and 6pm ET Monday Through Friday, visit lafemmeny.com, or email the company for additional information.

Colossal Jewelry and Accessories Inc. recalled 10,400 children’s metal necklaces and bracelets sold at various discount and dollar stores nationwide from January 2005 through June 2007 for about $1.00. Recalled metal necklaces and bracelets have silver-colored charms. Some also have colored beads. Printed on some of the jewelry’s packaging is “Awesome Boutique” or “Share the Love.” The recalled jewelry includes a necklace with a metal flower-shaped charm that hangs form a pink cord, a metal heart charm bracelet, a metal heart angel charm bracelet with colored beads, a metal bracelet with four heart charms and ruby-colored beads, necklaces with painted hearts that hang from a cord, and necklaces with tiny purses in various colors.

Consumers should return the recalled jewelry to the store from where purchased for a full refund. Consumers may contact Colossal Jewelry and Accessories at 1-888-808-5093 between 9am and 5pm ET Monday through Friday or email the company for additional information.

Cherrydale Fundraising recalled 45,000 decorative stretchable aqua bracelets sold at various dollar stores, liquidators, and schools as part of nationwide fundraising. The jewelry was sold from September 2003 through April 2007 for between $1.00 and $2.00. The recalled bracelets are stretchable with silver-colored square links and aqua-colored beads. The SKU#5384706813 is printed on the packaging.

Consumers should return the recalled bracelets to the store where purchased to receive a full refund. Consumers may contact Cherrydale Fundraising at 1-800-333-2565 between 8am and 4:30pm ET Monday through Friday or visit cherrydale.com for additional information.

Buy-Rite Designs Inc. recalled 43,000 Sparkle City Charm Bracelets and Tack Pin Sets sold at Big Lots stores nationwide from August 2005 through April 2007 for about $1.00. The recalled charm bracelets have silver-colored star and butterfly charms, and clear and pink beads that hang form a silver-colored chain. The tack pins are silver butterflies or stars with clear and pink beads.

Consumers should return the recalled jewelry to the store where purchased for a full refund. Consumers may contact Buy-Rite at 1-888-777-7952 between 9am and 5pm ET Monday through Friday or visit buyriteinc.com for additional information.

Raymond Geddes and Company recalled 84,200 children’s pencil pouches sold at school supply distributors in schools nationwide from September 1997 through October 2007 for between $.50 and $2.00. The recalled pencil pouches include “Stuff Keepers” and “Bear Pencil Pouches.” The “Stuff Keepers” pencil pouches are clear vinyl, measure 9 inches by 6 inches, and have a green, orange, pink, or blue-colored zipper with style number 63525 printed on the packaging. The “Bear Pencil Pouches” have a soft fabric with a stuffed bear face, and measure 9 inches by 3 inches with style number 67221 printed on the packaging.

Consumers should returned recalled pencil pouches to the store where purchased for a full refund. Consumers may contact Raymond Geddes and Company at 1-800-533-6273 x1124 between 8am and 5pm ET Monday through Friday, visit the company’s website or email the Consumer Affairs Department for additional information.

THE CPSC ALSO ISSUED A RECALL FOR PRODUCTS DUE TO CHOKING HAZARD. INCLUDED IN THE RECALL:

The Boppy Company recalled 38,000 Boppy Slipcovers sold at discount department stores nationwide from July 2006 through September 2007 for around $16.00. The zipper pull on the slipcovers can break and pose a choking hazard to young children. The zippers also contain excessive levels of lead. The recalled Boppy slipcovers are velvet and boa slipcovers intended for use with the Boppy Bare Naked nursing and support pillow. The recalled slipcovers were sold in three color combinations and have the following UPC and dates found on the California Flammability Law tag:

• Blue/Green Velvet, 769662 30802 1, 05/2006 and 06/2006
• Pink/ Orange Velvet, 769662 30801 4, 05/2006 and 06/2006
• Pastel Blue Velvet, 769662 30705 5, 05/2006

Consumers should contact The Boppy Company for a free replacement of the product. Consumers may contact The Boppy Company at 1-888-713-3916 anytime or visit boppy.com for additional information.

Sailing (U.S.) International Corp. recalled 8,000 flashing pacifiers sold at various retail stores nationwide in June 2007 for about $5.00 per dozen. The nipple of the flashing pacifier can detach from the base and pose a choking hazard to young children. The recalled pacifier necklace has a 28-inch multicolored cord with a 3-inch plastic pacifier that comes in assorted colors. A hole at the tip of the nipple is used as a blow hole for the whistle. The pacifier handle operates as the on-off button for the flashing light on both pacifiers. Printed on the package includes “Flashing Pacifier” or “2-in-1 Flashing Pacifier with Whistle Necklace.”

Consumers should return the recalled flashing pacifiers to the store where purchased for a full refund. Consumers may contact Sailing (U.S.) International Corp. for additional information.

IN ADDITION, THE CPSC ISSUED A RECALL FOR A PRODUCT THAT POSES A FIRE HAZARD:

Elmo Co. Ltd. Recalled 54,000 visual presenters (sold as image presentation cameras by Epson) sold at Elmo dealers, office supply stores and other retailers nationwide form December 1993 to June 2006 for between $2,600 and $9,000. Improper installation of the fluorescent top lights can cause them to overheat and pose a fire hazard. The recalled visual presenters capture images to LCD panels, LCD projectors, and TV monitors. Recalled presenters sold under the ELMO, Epson, Doar Communications, Vtel and Tandberg brand names and were manufactured between December 1993 and December 2003. The manufacturer information is located between the side, rear and bottom of the main body with the following ELMO model numbers:

• EV-500AF,
• EV-440AF,
• EV-600AF,
• EV-800AF,
• HV-5000XG,
• HV-7000SX,
• HV-8000SX,
• EV-4400AF,
• HV-5100XG, and
• Epson model ELPDC02.

Consumers should contact ELMO USA for all models except Epson. Consumers can contact Elmo USA at 1-877-275-3566 between 9am and 5pm ET Monday through Friday or visit elmousa.com. All Epson owners should contact Epson at 1-800-444-1948 between 7am and 5pm PT Monday through Friday or visit epson.com for additional information.

FINALLY, THE CPSC ALSO ISSUED A RECALL FOR A PRODUCT DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK HAZARD:

Cooper Lighting Inc. recalled 274,000 Metalux Fluorescent Shop Lights should at major home center and hardware stores nationwide from January 2007 to October 2007 for between $8 and $10. When the two prongs on the plug’s electrical cord are touched simultaneously while the lamps are installed, the light can pose an electric shock hazard. There have been six reports from consumers who were shocked. The recalled Metalux fluorescent shop lights include model 9240 and only date codes between December 1, 2006 (“344 06”) and September 14, 2007 (“257 07”). The model number date code can be found on the packaging and on labels adhered to the fixture housing.

Consumers should return the light fixture immediately as instructed at cooperlighting.com. Consumers may contact Cooper Lighting at 1-800-440-1676 between 8am and 5pm ET Monday through Friday for additional information.

Sources: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Release #08-088, Release #08-089, Release #08-090, Release #08-091, Release #08-092, Release #08-093, Release #08-094, Release #08-095, Release #08-096, Release #08-097, Release #08-098, Release #08-099, November 21, 2007.