Government recalls children's necklaces containing lead

WASHINGTON - The government announced the recall of children's necklaces because they contain high levels of lead.

Raymond Geddes Co. of Baltimore, which makes the necklaces in China, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission said there have not been any reports of problems from the approximately 155,000 necklaces in question. The recall is being done to prevent the possibility of injury.

The government bans children's products from containing high levels of lead due to the risk of lead poisoning. The necklaces also have a sharp point, posing a cutting risk to young children.

The recalled necklaces have medallions that came in four different designs depicting frogs, dolphins with a small bead on the tail, a sunshine smiley face and an alien face on a starburst. The medallion is on a black rope chain surrounded by metallic bead with a coil section.

The items were sold through mail order catalogs nationwide and on the Internet from August 1998 through last month for about $1.

People should take the necklaces away from children and contact the company to get a refund. The company can be reached at 1-888-431-1722.

Concern over risks of lead poisoning led to a July recall of 150 million pieces of metal toy jewelry by four importers. Some of the jewelry, sold in vending machines, contained dangerous levels of lead and the government received one report of lead poisoning in which a child swallowed a piece of toy jewelry that had been recalled.

In March, an Arizona company recalled some 1 million rings sold in vending machines nationwide because the items contained high levels of lead and posed a risk of poisoning to young children.