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NEWARK
– Investigators from the state Division
of Consumer Affairs have found toys which
were recalled for potential lead contamination
on sale in nine stores in New Jersey following
statewide inspections conducted within the
past week, Attorney General Anne Milgram
and Acting Consumer Affairs Director Larry
DeMarzo announced today.
Division
investigators, working in conjunction with
staff from consumer affairs offices in Camden,
Cumberland, Hunterdon, Monmouth, Passaic
and Union counties, checked whether recalled
toys were available for purchase at 160
stores across New Jersey. The federal Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has sole
authority to order the recall of toys.
“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 marks the traditional start of holiday
shopping and consumers should check the
CPSC’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:
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Cost Cutters, 521 Livingston Avenue, Norwood
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Cost Cutters, 175 Locust Avenue, West
Long Branch
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Cost Cutters, Rt. 202 at Comly Road, Lincoln
Park
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Cost Cutters, 190 Elmora Avenue, Elizabeth
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Cost Cutters, 390 Route 206, Hillsborough
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Cost Cutters, Route 9 at First Avenue,
Lacey Township
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Dollar Zone Plus, 421 Broadway, Gloucester
City
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Lot-Less Closeout Inc., 683 Broad Street,
Newark
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Family Dollar Store, 134 Smith Street,
Perth Amboy
Store
personnel removed the recalled items from
shelves after being informed about the items
by investigators.
The
Division of Consumer Affairs provides a
link from its web site to the CPSC’s
list of recalled toys: www.nj.gov/oag/ca/recall/recalls.htm
“Recent
recalls have including 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
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.
Consumers
who believe a store is selling a voluntarily
recalled toy without having public notice
posted can call the Division of Consumer
Affairs at 1-800-242-5846
(toll-free within New Jersey) or at
973-504-6200.
>>
Toy
Safety Letter (69k pdf) plug-in
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