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New Jersey Finds Recalled Toys In Nine Stores

State subpoenas retailers' records to check compliance

November 27, 2007

• California Warns Retailers On Lead • Mattel Settles Suits Over Dangerous Toys • Target To Pay $600,000 For Violating Lead Paint Ban • Tougher Safety Requirements For Children's Products Now In Effect • Toys 'R' Us Launches Unsafe Baby Products Awareness Program • New Safety Agency Chief Pledges Greater Openness • Obama Names New Consumer Product Safety Chair, Boosts Budget • Toymaker Fined $1.1 Million For Consumer Violations • Maryland Stores Stop Selling Toys With Lead Paint • Toymakers, Craftspeople Up In Arms Over New Safety Law • Thrift Stores Protest Ban on Lead Toys • Target Launches In-Store Recall System • Do's and Don'ts of Holiday Decorating • New Jersey Finds Recalled Toys in Four Stores • Mattel Agrees to Lower Lead Paint Levels in Toys • Consumers Cautioned About Dangerous Toys • Soon-To-Be-Banned Plastic Toys Flooding the Market • Safety Agency Warns of Safety Hazards in Cribs --- • More Consumer Safety News • Recall Notices

Investigators from the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs say they have found toys that were recalled for potential lead contamination on sale in nine stores in New Jersey. The toys were uncovered in statewide inspections of 160 stores, conducted by the state officials last week.

“The fact that our investigators found recalled items available for purchase underscores the need for shoppers to be vigilant about toy safety this holiday season,” Attorney General Anne Milgram said. “Black Friday marked the traditional start of holiday shopping and consumers should check the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s toy recall list before making their own shopping lists.”

In cooperation with the state Department of Education, the Division of Consumer Affairs has written a letter about toy safety and recent toy recalls that is being provided to school districts throughout the state. Schools are being asked to provide copies of the letter to grade school children to take home to their parents.

The Division of Consumer Affairs also has issued subpoenas to New Jersey-based toy manufacturers and distributors, including Toys R Us, Inc., Buy-Rite Designs, Inc., GuideCraft, Inc., and Henry Gordy International, Inc., seeking information about their lead testing and product safety protocols and for identification of any toys that they imported from China.

Consumer Affairs’ investigators went to stores in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties to check for recalled toys. The following stores had recalled toys on shelves and also failed to have recall notices posted, according to the New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs:

• Cost Cutters, 521 Livingston Avenue, Norwood
• Cost Cutters, 175 Locust Avenue, West Long Branch
• Cost Cutters, Rt. 202 at Comly Road, Lincoln Park
• Cost Cutters, 190 Elmora Avenue, Elizabeth
• Cost Cutters, 390 Route 206, Hillsborough
• Cost Cutters, Route 9 at First Avenue, Lacey Township
• Dollar Zone Plus, 421 Broadway, Gloucester City
• Lot-Less Closeout Inc., 683 Broad Street, Newark
• Family Dollar Store, 134 Smith Street, Perth Amboy

Store personnel removed the recalled items from shelves after being informed about the items by investigators.

“Recent recalls have included toys containing lead-based paint, as well as toys with small pieces and parts that may result in a child choking if these are swallowed,” Acting Director Larry DeMarzo said. “We want consumers to be aware of these potential hazards and we expect stores to pull recalled items from their shelves.”

DeMarzo noted that investigators will continue to check stores for recalled toys throughout the holiday shopping season. Having recalled toys available for purchase and failing to post notice about recalled toys violates the state’s Consumer Fraud Act.

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