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Crayons imported from China

CPSC Recall #94-049 — March 21, 1994

Recall Summary

Recall Number94-049
Recall DateMarch 21, 1994
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedApproximately 430
Manufactured InChina

Product

Crayons imported from China

Description

PRODUCT: Certain crayons imported from China by Concord Enterprises, Los Angeles, California, sold in a plastic box, bearing the labels "12 Jumbo Crayons," "Made in China," and "Non-Toxic." PROBLEM: The yellow and orange color crayons contain enough lead to present a lead poisoning hazard to young children who might eat or chew on the crayons. While other sources such as lead paint are major causes of lead poisoning, it is important to eliminate other contributors to lead poisoning, such as these crayons. WHAT TO DO: Take the yellow and orange crayons away from children and discard them or take them back to the store for a refund. Buy only crayons and other children's art materials that have this label: "Conforms to ASTM D-4236" (or similar words) which means that a toxicologist has reviewed the art material for chronic hazards. Retailers should stop sale and return crayons to Concord Enterprises. WASHINGTON, DC -- CPSC and Concord Enterprises announces the recall of certain crayons imported from China because of a lead poisoning hazard. CPSC tested the crayons and found hazardous amounts of lead in the yellow and orange color crayons. If a child eats or chews on the crayon, lead poisoning could occur. Therefore, CPSC urges consumers to take the crayons away from children and discard them or return them to the store for a refund. Retailers should stop sale and return the crayons to Concord Enterprises. Parents should buy only crayons and other children's art materials that have this label: "Conforms to ASTM D-4236," or similar words. This label means that the crayons and other art materials have been reviewed by a toxicologist for chronic hazards and are labeled appropriately. No art materials lacking the conformance label or bearing hazard labeling should be given to young children. CPSC Chairman Ann Brown said, "While there are other major causes of lead poisoning, such as lead paint, we want to eliminate any additional lead sources, such as crayons. Throw these crayons in the trash can or take them back to the store for a refund." Lead has long been recognized as a hazardous substance, especially to young children, fetuses, and infants. Lead poisoning can cause irreversible brain damage and can impair mental functioning. It can retard mental and physical development and reduce attention span. Concord Enterprises imported and sold approximately 430 cases of crayons. They were sold in a plastic box with the following markings on the box: "12 Jumbo Crayons," "Made in China," "Non-Toxic," and "Distributed by Concord Ent. Los Angeles." The crayons are approximately 6 inches long and about half an inch thick. CPSC is investigating other crayons to see if they contain hazardous lead. The Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) bans children's products containing hazardous amounts of lead. In addition, the Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act amendments to the FHSA require that all art materials be reviewed by a toxicologist for chronic hazards and be labeled appropriately. Crayons that contain hazardous lead levels are banned hazardous substances and crayons without the conformance label are misbranded art materials under the law. CPSC's mission is to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.6 million injuries and 21,700 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.

Hazard

The yellow and orange color crayons contain enough lead to present a lead poisoning hazard to young children who might eat or chew on the crayons.

Remedy Instructions

Take the yellow and orange crayons away from children and discard them or take them back to the store for 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.

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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.

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