SpongeBob Products Latest Chinese Recall

Among the latest victims in the recall of lead-laden products from China: SpongeBob Square Pants, Curious George and Thomas the Tank Engine.

On Wednesday, the U.S. announced recalls of tens of thousands of Chinese-made children's products because of lead hazards. Childhood exposure to lead can cause learning problems, reduced intelligence, hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder.

Among the items recalled are nearly 250,000 SpongeBob SquarePants address books and journals manufactured in China because the bindings might contain hazardous levels of lead paint, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

Also recalled: About 66,000 spinning tops and about 4,700 pails painted with Thomas & Friends, Curious George, circus scenes or solid colors. The tops and pails were manufactured in China, imported by Schylling Associates Inc. and are being recalled because paint on the wooden handles contains high levels of lead.

About 14,000 TOBY & ME jewelry sets, imported by TOBY N.Y.C., and about 7,900 Children's Divine Inspiration Charm Bracelets, imported by Buy-Rite Designs Inc. and made in China, were recalled because the jewelry contains high levels of lead.

No injuries have been reported.

China on Thursday defended a global recall of millions of its toys, saying that new international safety standards — not poor quality — were at the root of the issue.

Earlier this month, Mattel Inc. recalled almost 19 million Chinese-made items around the world including dolls, cars and action figures. Some were contaminated with lead paint, while others had small, powerful magnets that children might swallow and damage their organs.

Vice Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng said 18.2 million of the recalled products — including popular Polly Pocket dolls and Barbie play sets — were pulled off the shelves because of a revision of standards involving magnets that was issued in May.

"The U.S. dealer voluntarily recalled the toys that were made and sold before 2007, which at the time conformed to standards. This is a very responsible action for the health of children and consumers," Gao said at a news conference. "But strictly speaking, it has nothing to do with the toys' quality or its manufacturers."

Mattel first announced a recall involving magnets in November 2006, after several Polly Pocket injures were reported.

The Aug. 14 announcement was an extension of the November recall following a change in industry standards in May that mandated that toys with magnet or magnetic components had to reliably contain those parts, or carry a warning. No related injuries were reported from the latest recall.

Toys are the latest in the long list of Chinese exports that have come under intense scrutiny in recent months because of safety concerns. Toxic chemicals have been found in products ranging from toothpaste to seafood and pet food ingredients.

On Thursday, Chinese state media reported that toy makers will face tougher quality checks in Guangdong province, where many of the recalled Mattel toys were manufactured.

Makers of toys for export in Guangdong will have to undergo "quality licensing" as part of a new inspection system launched this week, the China Daily newspaper reported.

"We will keep a closer watch on not only finished products but also on potentially dangerous chemicals and paints," an unnamed official with the Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau was quoted as saying.

"And we will keep records concerning suppliers of potentially dangerous chemicals for toys and toy subcontractors," said the official in Guangdong, an export manufacturing base for a large percentage of Chinese products.

Gao said Mattel should also share the responsibility in the latest recall because it did not conduct "strict examinations" when it received toy shipments.

But, he said, China was taking the quality issue seriously.

"Even if there is only 1 percent of products that have quality problems, we will seek to establish the facts and take them very seriously and investigate and punish those companies involved," he said.

In the latest recall actions, the Ohio-based Martin Designs Inc. notified the Consumer Product Safety Commission that tests of the metal spiral bindings of its SpongeBob products turned up lead content above the level considered safe for children, the agency said Wednesday. Under regulations, children's products found to have more than .06 percent lead accessible to users are subject to a recall.

The books and journals were sold in retail stores nationwide from June 2006 through July 2007. They have a black metal spiral binding and depict the SpongeBob SquarePants character in various outfits on the front cover, and have UPC codes 80773007505; 80773002260; 80773075501; and 80773007551. Consumers should dispose of the product and return the UPC code for a full refund to Martin Designs, Attention: Product Recall, 605 Westlake Dr., Ashland OH 44805. For more information, consumers can call the company at (866) 898-0261 or visit www.martindesigns-ltd.com or www.cpsc.gov.

For information concerning the Thomas & Friends and Curious George toys imported by Schylling Associates, call (800) 767-8697; on the Web, www.schylling.com or www.cpsc.gov.

The recalled "Toby & Me" sets, in a pink gift box with "TOBY & ME" printed on the front, were sold at T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and A.J. Wright stores. Consumers should contact TOBY N.Y.C. for information on receiving a refund or replacement item. Details: (866) 235-0588; www.cpsc.gov.

The recalled Children Divine Inspiration bracelets have silver-colored charms and clear and pink beads that hang from a silver-colored chain. Dollar stores and other small retail stores nationwide sold the product. Consumers should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund or contact Buy-Rite for information on how to receive a refund. Details: (888) 777-7952, ext. 175; www.buyriteinc.com or www.cpsc.gov.

Other recalls announced Wednesday include carrots labeled "genuine sweet baby carrots" which may be contaminated with the shigella bacteria that could cause diarrhea, nausea, fever and vomiting, the California-based Los Angeles Salad Company announced.

The product was sold under two labels: "Los Angeles Salad Genuine Sweet Baby Carrots" with a "sell-by-date" up to and including Aug. 16, 2007, and "Trader Joe's Genuine Sweet Baby Carrots" with a "sell-by-date" up to and including Aug. 8, 2007. For details call the company at (626) 322-9017.

An undisclosed number of 5-pound bags of Krasdale Gravy dry dog food, from Mars Petcare US Inc., were recalled because of potential Salmonella contamination that could infect pets and people who come into contact with the product. The dog food with UPC Code 7513062596 and best by dates of July 16 and 17, 2008, was sold in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Details: Contact Mars Petcare at (866) 298-8332 or www.marspetcare.com.