Metal Charms
CPSC Recall #05-127 — March 2, 2005
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 05-127 |
| Recall Date | March 2, 2005 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| The recalled metal charms were sold at Michaels Stores from July 2002 through February 2005 |
| at Recollections stores from October 2004 through February 2005 |
| and at Hancock Fabrics stores from January 2004 through January 2005 for between $3 to $4. |
Product
Metal Charms
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Hirschberg Schutz & Co. Inc., of Warren, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 2.8 million metal charms. The recalled metal charms contain high levels of lead, posing a serious risk of lead poisoning to young children.CPSC received a report of a six-year-old girl who mouthed these charms worn on a homemade necklace. She developed elevated lead levels in her blood that may be related to the charms. Lead poisoning in children is associated with behavioral problems, learning disabilities, hearing problems and growth retardation.The recalled metal charms were sold under the name "Charming Thoughts™." Most of the charms are silver-colored with small silver loops. They were sold in packages of two to 12 pieces. The packages are marked "The Card Connection™," "Charming Thoughts™" and "Hirschberg Schutz & Co. Inc." The metal charms are various shapes including small hearts, crowns, birds, picture frames, perfume bottles and a cross. Some of the metal charms have small blue, pink or yellow stones and are printed with words including "princess," "congratulations," "city girl," "world traveler" and "life's blessings." "Insert photo here," "cherish," "love," and "honor" are printed on the picture frame charms. The metal charms were sold as decorations for place cards, greeting cards, collages, memory boxes, gift cards, scrapbooks, invitations and gift bags. The charms also can be attached to necklaces and bracelets. The recalled metal charms were sold at Michaels Stores from July 2002 through February 2005, at Recollections stores from October 2004 through February 2005, and at Hancock Fabrics stores from January 2004 through January 2005 for between $3 to $4. All of the charms were manufactured in China.Consumers should immediately take these metal charms away from children and contact Hirschberg Schutz & Co. at (800) 651-0616 anytime to receive a refund. Consumers also can e-mail the firm at [email protected] for more information.
Hazard
The recalled metal charms contain high levels of lead, posing a serious risk of lead poisoning to young children.
Incidents & Injuries
CPSC received a report of a six-year-old girl who mouthed these charms worn on a homemade necklace. She developed elevated lead levels in her blood that may be related to the charms.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately take these metal charms away from children and contact Hirschberg Schutz & Co. at (800) 651-0616 anytime to receive a refund.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.