ALBANY, N.Y. — The state of New York has filed a lawsuit against the Target and Walmart, as well as LaRose Industries, alleging the sale of lead-contaminated toys with nearly 10 times more than legal level of lead allowed by federal standards.
According to the New York Attorney General's Office, Walmart, Target and importer LaRose Industries violated state laws after testing showed "Cra-Z-Jewelz" sold by the retailers and imported by LaRose, contained more than the 100 parts per million over the federal limit. The Cra-Z-Jewlez jewelry-making kits tested by the Attorney General's Office and retested by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, showed lead levels between 120 to 980 parts per million. LaRose also did additional testing on the kits and then issued a nationwide recall, the office said.
“No parent should have to worry that their child’s toy may be toxic," said New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood in a statement. "As we allege, these companies imported and sold toys with dangerous levels of toxic lead – jeopardizing the health of New York’s children and breaking the law. Our lawsuit seeks to hold these companies accountable for the failures that allowed lead-contaminated toys on store shelves, while forcing them to take responsibility for the safety of the products they sell.”
The attorney general seeks civil penalties that could amount from $70 to $6,000 for each Cra-Z-Jewlez kit attempted to be sold throughout the state, in addition to a court order for the companies to take steps which will prevent high level lead exposure toys from being sold in New York.