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Last Friday, the CPSC and FAF Inc., of Greenville, R.I., announced a recall of the Disney "The Princess and The Frog" pendants because of high levels of the toxic metal cadmium, an unprecedented action that reflects concerns of an emerging threat in children's jewelry. Earlier in the year, Walmart pulled several types of jewelry, including these recalled items, off the store's shelves due to similar concerns over the levels of cadmium reported to be in the toys.

The CPSC recall announcement includes the jewelry sold at Walmart nationwide, from November 2009 through January 2010, for $5. The recalled items are shaped as a metal crown or frog pendant on a metal link chain necklace in a crown hinged box. The model and UPC numbers are: Crown Model # 4616-4187 UPC # 72783367144; Frog Model # 4616-4190 UPC # 72783367147.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports Walmart's statement that it continues to actively participate in the CPSC investigation, and that it has taken "swift action" when it removed the cited items on Jan. 11.

For its part, Disney has instituted a "zero tolerance" policy on the presence of the toxic metal in any of it products, according to the Journal Constitution. In a letter sent to its vendors and licensees last week, the company is now requiring testing for cadmium in all products bearing the Disney name. This exceeds the current requirements set by the federal government which as of this time, does not have set limits on the amount of cadmium a product can contain. "Any detectable levels of cadmium will be deemed a product failure," wrote Manuel G. Grace, Disney Co.'s senior vice president for product integrity.

Unfortunately, the CPSC asks that caregivers take all of the recalled jewelry away from children immediately. However, consumers can return the recalled jewelry to any Walmart store for a full refund or a free replacement product. For additional information, contact F.A.F. Inc. at (800) 949-3311 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.faf.com.

For the complete text of the CPSC recall, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10127.html.

Related Resources:

• Walmart pendants recalled as Disney bans cadmium (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
• Walmart Jewelry Is Pulled over Cadmium Toxicity Fears (FindLaw's Injured)
• Bad Fairy: Tinkerbell Jewelry Recalled by CPSC (FindLaw's Common Law)
• Personal Injuries from Defective Products (provided by Johnston, Moore & Thompson)
• Products Liability FAQ (provided by Dolt, Thompson, Shepherd, Kinney & Wilt, P.S.C.)