Toys ‘R‘ Us pulls bibs as a precaution
Staff and agencies
21 August, 2007


By JEFFREY GOLD, AP Business Writer Fri Aug 17, 6:25 PM ET

NEWARK, N.J. - 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.

Tests of Hamco bibs in May were within standards, Toys "R" Us said.

A message seeking comment from Hamco, based in Gonzales, La., was not immediately returned.

Toys "R" Us, the nation‘s second-largest toy seller after Wal-Mart Stores Inc., said customers can return any vinyl bib purchased from a Toys "R" Us or Babies "R" Us store for a full refund.

The bib removal is the latest in a series of recent problems involving imports from China. Products including tires, toys, toothpaste, seafood and pet food have been recalled.

The action by Toys "R" Us came two days after a California environmental group said that some vinyl bibs made in China and sold at Toys "R" Us stores contained lead levels well above federal safety limits for lead in paint.

Both the bibs sold by Wal-Mart and Toys "R" Us were manufactured in China for Hamco.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a statement in May saying that the lead-contaminated bibs were safe if in good condition. But if a bib "deteriorates to the point that a baby could pull or bite off and swallow a piece of vinyl containing lead, then the amounts of lead consumed could approach levels of concern," the agency said.

On the Net:

Hamco Inc.: http://www.crowncrafts.com

Center for Environmental Health: http://www.cehca.org/babybibs.htm

By JEFFREY GOLD, AP Business Writer Fri Aug 17, 6:25 PM ET

NEWARK, N.J. - 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.

Tests of Hamco bibs in May were within standards, Toys "R" Us said.

A message seeking comment from Hamco, based in Gonzales, La., was not immediately returned.

Toys "R" Us, the nation‘s second-largest toy seller after Wal-Mart Stores Inc., said customers can return any vinyl bib purchased from a Toys "R" Us or Babies "R" Us store for a full refund.

The bib removal is the latest in a series of recent problems involving imports from China. Products including tires, toys, toothpaste, seafood and pet food have been recalled.

The action by Toys "R" Us came two days after a California environmental group said that some vinyl bibs made in China and sold at Toys "R" Us stores contained lead levels well above federal safety limits for lead in paint.

Both the bibs sold by Wal-Mart and Toys "R" Us were manufactured in China for Hamco.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a statement in May saying that the lead-contaminated bibs were safe if in good condition. But if a bib "deteriorates to the point that a baby could pull or bite off and swallow a piece of vinyl containing lead, then the amounts of lead consumed could approach levels of concern," the agency said.

On the Net:

Hamco Inc.: http://www.crowncrafts.com

Center for Environmental Health: http://www.cehca.org/babybibs.htm

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