Possible LEAD danger-Charms from Micheal's

[camsmom]

One of my friends e-mailed this link to me. Apprently there is a danger of lead in charms sold under the Card Connection name at Micheal's. I KNOW I have some myself, and I am pretty sure I have seen them on cards/pages here.

Charms Containing Lead

[camsmom]

Here is the text, but the link includes photos:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Hirschberg Schutz & Co. Inc., of Warren, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 2.8 million metal charms. The recalled metal charms contain high levels of lead, posing a serious risk of lead poisoning to young children.

CPSC received a report of a six-year-old girl who mouthed these charms worn on a homemade necklace. She developed elevated lead levels in her blood that may be related to the charms. Lead poisoning in children is associated with behavioral problems, learning disabilities, hearing problems and growth retardation.

The recalled metal charms were sold under the name “Charming Thoughts™.�? Most of the charms are silver-colored with small silver loops. They were sold in packages of two to 12 pieces. The packages are marked “The Card Connection™,�? “Charming Thoughts™�? and “Hirschberg Schutz & Co. Inc.�? The metal charms are various shapes including small hearts, crowns, birds, picture frames, perfume bottles and a cross. Some of the metal charms have small blue, pink or yellow stones and are printed with words including “princess,�? “congratulations,�? “city girl,�? “world traveler�? and “life’s blessings.�? “Insert photo here,�? “cherish,�? “love,�? and “honor�? are printed on the picture frame charms. The metal charms were sold as decorations for place cards, greeting cards, collages, memory boxes, gift cards, scrapbooks, invitations and gift bags. The charms also can be attached to necklaces and bracelets.

The recalled metal charms were sold at Michaels Stores from July 2002 through February 2005, at Recollections stores from October 2004 through February 2005, and at Hancock Fabrics stores from January 2004 through January 2005 for between $3 to $4. All of the charms were manufactured in China.

Consumers should immediately take these metal charms away from children and contact Hirschberg Schutz & Co. at (800) 873-5506 anytime to receive a refund. Consumers also can e-mail the firm at [email protected] for more information.

[mamakimberly]

Yikes.

[11Valerie11]

Thanks! I have a bunch of them, so I'll be calling the 800 #. I only use them in my collage and card making, but you just never know where they will end up.........

Valerie

[Jovi]

WOW I think I may have bought some of those before!!! :shock:
Thanks Britta for the info

[rubberstampaholic]

Luckily I don't have any of these...but thanks for passing along the information!

[inkspot62]

I recently saw something on TV about this. They warned the public of little toy jewelry purchased out of those bubble gum type machines. A child had gotten severely ill, near death in fact, after swallowing a charm.

[skpupy68]

I just sent this to my group. A lot of them scrapbook so they may have these charms and of course, they all have young kids.

You would think that in this day and age, this type of thing would not be allowed on the shelves of such a popular craft store. I think quality control has gone out the window.

Mo

[Leaving before I start ranting]

[Stacy Hollingsworth]

Wow, I just found a couple of these in my drawer. I guess I'll be calling....

[camsmom]

I am going to add 1 pic in case it helps jog someone's memory. Many of these were dangerous, the pic below is just 1 example, but apprently all the varieities were/are dangerous

[Mom2MalNJaden]

There was a special on this a while back on ABC, I believe. They were focusing on jewelry from little boutiques (like Claire's and such) and they were talking about the percentages of lead content being unacceptable. I told my daughter we'll have to stick to sterling silver from now on (and I'll probably have to secretly chunk the rest). You just can't be too careful when it comes to your children.

[camsmom]

BUMP for the morning crew

[Faryprincess]

I know I have some of those so I will have to go through my embellishments container and get a refund.

Thanks for the post Britta!

[aselahop]

Yikes, our Micheals just had a huge clearance on those charms! And they were mostly gone when I saw them. Hope the people that bought them know about this.

[Crysta]

Oh man! I just sent a card to my 4 year old niece with one of these charms on it. I guess I'll be making a call to my sister to warn her.
Thanks for the heads up Britta.

[Sereikastamper]

YIKES!!! HOW SCARY IS THAT???? :shock:

[instcollector]

Our Michael's closed their store here in my town a couple of months ago. I recall that they had all of their charms on sale at a huge discount. This is scary! I do hope that this information is widespread!!

[Novell]

I was just at Michaels and they had a sign posted at each checkout stand. I know I have some of these but no longer have them on the papers they came attached to. I usually take them off and put them into a small container. Will just have to chuck them, I guess.

[stampin3]

Looks like I will be getting rid of mine. I have used some and mailed them out too!! :shock:

Thanks for the information!

[Karbry]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Novell

I was just at Michaels and they had a sign posted at each checkout stand. I know I have some of these but no longer have them on the papers they came attached to. I usually take them off and put them into a small container. Will just have to chuck them, I guess.

Hi,

Don't chuck them. Call Michaels first because I bought mine in October and I took them off the cards & I called Michaels and the lady just told me to bring them in. I got a $30 cash refund today for the charms I took back. They do have a sign posted about the charms. I hardly had to say anything when I went in. Just told the lady that these were the charms that were recalled and she counted them up and gave me a refund.

HTH,
Karen B

[ReindeerTrout]

Michael's is not the only place that sells those charms. I'm pretty sure I've bought them at nearly every craft store I've been to.

[Pendant23]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReindeerTrout

Michael's is not the only place that sells those charms. I'm pretty sure I've bought them at nearly every craft store I've been to.

The dollar bins at Target have some heart ones right now with colored, enamel centers. They appeared to be just like Card Connections and also were made in China.

I NEVER buy cheapie crayons from China because they have a recall on crayons all the time -- and you know kids put the crayons in their mouths.

[camsmom]

I had not thought of the ones I bought at Target, but that makes perfect sense as well.

Thank you for teh remonder about Target as well as other craft stores that may carry those charms. :shock:

[raduse]

I was just in our Michaels here and they have NO notices posted at any of the registers or in the charms section by the rubber stamps. I just emailed the company to see what to do about my 2 packs of flowers and hearts.

[happyscrapper40]

I have "The Card Connection" 5 piece silver charms with 2 hearts , the word "Love", and 2 envelopes, but it does not have "Charming Thoughts" on the topper. I did purchase this from M's in 2002. Do you think this one counts?

[clearbrook]

I think the word is getting out to the media, there was a story on our (Portland, OR) news yesterday about them with good pictures of which charms they were. I haven't been to my Michael's yet, but they used to have TONS of this kind of charms.

[camsmom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by happyscrapper40

I have "The Card Connection" 5 piece silver charms with 2 hearts , the word "Love", and 2 envelopes, but it does not have "Charming Thoughts" on the topper. I did purchase this from M's in 2002. Do you think this one counts?

The article said:

Quote:

The packages are marked “The Card Connection™,�? “Charming Thoughts™�? and “Hirschberg Schutz & Co. Inc.�? ...The recalled metal charms were sold at Michaels Stores from July 2002 through February 2005, at Recollections stores from October 2004 through February 2005, and at Hancock Fabrics stores from January 2004 through January 2005 for between $3 to $4. All of the charms were manufactured in China.

I would double check if you still have the packaging.