Big Mac pulls cadmium-laced 'Shrek' promo glasses in US
Source: Agencies |
June 5, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
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CADMIUM has been discovered in the painted design on "Shrek"-themed drinking glasses being sold in the United States at McDonald's, forcing the fast food company to recall 12 million of the cheap US-made collectibles while dramatically expanding contamination concerns about the toxic metal beyond imported children's jewelry.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission, which announced the voluntary recall early yesterday, warned consumers to immediately stop using the glasses; McDonald's said it would post instructions on its Website next week regarding refunds.
The 16-ounce glasses, being sold for about US$2 each as part of a promotional campaign for the movie "Shrek Forever After," were available in four designs depicting the characters Shrek, Princess Fiona, Puss in Boots and Donkey.
In the animated comedy, which debuted on May 21 as the latest installment of the successful DreamWorks Animation franchise, the voice of Shrek is performed by Mike Myers of "Austin Powers" fame, Cameron Diaz performs as Princess Fiona, Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots and Eddie Murphy voices Donkey. The movie has been No. 1 at the box office.
The CPSC noted in its recall notice that "long-term exposure to cadmium can cause adverse health effects." Cadmium is a known carcinogen that also can cause bone softening and severe kidney problems.
In the case of the Shrek-themed glassware, the potential danger would be long-term exposure to low levels of cadmium, which could leach from the paint onto a child's hand, then enter the body if the child puts that unwashed hand to his or her mouth.
Cadmium can be used to create reds and yellows in paint. McDonald's USA spokesman Bill Whitman said a pigment in paint on the glasses contained cadmium.
"A very small amount of cadmium can come to the surface of the glass, and in order to be as protective as possible of children, CPSC and McDonald's worked together on this recall," said CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson.
He would not specify how much cadmium leached from the paint in tests, but said the amounts were "slightly above the protective level currently being developed by the agency."
Wolfson said the glasses have "far less cadmium than the children's metal jewelry that CPSC has previously recalled."
Concerns about cadmium exposure emerged in January, when it was reported that some items of children's jewelry sold at major national chains contained up to 91 percent of the metal. Federal regulators worry that kids could ingest cadmium by biting, sucking or even swallowing contaminated pendants and bracelets.
The consumer protection agency has issued three recalls this spring for such jewelry, including products sold at Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer; and Claire's, a big jewelry and accessories chain in North America.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission, which announced the voluntary recall early yesterday, warned consumers to immediately stop using the glasses; McDonald's said it would post instructions on its Website next week regarding refunds.
The 16-ounce glasses, being sold for about US$2 each as part of a promotional campaign for the movie "Shrek Forever After," were available in four designs depicting the characters Shrek, Princess Fiona, Puss in Boots and Donkey.
In the animated comedy, which debuted on May 21 as the latest installment of the successful DreamWorks Animation franchise, the voice of Shrek is performed by Mike Myers of "Austin Powers" fame, Cameron Diaz performs as Princess Fiona, Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots and Eddie Murphy voices Donkey. The movie has been No. 1 at the box office.
The CPSC noted in its recall notice that "long-term exposure to cadmium can cause adverse health effects." Cadmium is a known carcinogen that also can cause bone softening and severe kidney problems.
In the case of the Shrek-themed glassware, the potential danger would be long-term exposure to low levels of cadmium, which could leach from the paint onto a child's hand, then enter the body if the child puts that unwashed hand to his or her mouth.
Cadmium can be used to create reds and yellows in paint. McDonald's USA spokesman Bill Whitman said a pigment in paint on the glasses contained cadmium.
"A very small amount of cadmium can come to the surface of the glass, and in order to be as protective as possible of children, CPSC and McDonald's worked together on this recall," said CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson.
He would not specify how much cadmium leached from the paint in tests, but said the amounts were "slightly above the protective level currently being developed by the agency."
Wolfson said the glasses have "far less cadmium than the children's metal jewelry that CPSC has previously recalled."
Concerns about cadmium exposure emerged in January, when it was reported that some items of children's jewelry sold at major national chains contained up to 91 percent of the metal. Federal regulators worry that kids could ingest cadmium by biting, sucking or even swallowing contaminated pendants and bracelets.
The consumer protection agency has issued three recalls this spring for such jewelry, including products sold at Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer; and Claire's, a big jewelry and accessories chain in North America.
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