Los Angeles Daily News
Group: Disney jewelry has lead
Suit threatened if toys not removed
By Daily News Staff and Wire Services
Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - BURBANK - Children's jewelry sold by The Walt Disney Co. contains dangerously toxic levels of lead, an environmental group charged Tuesday.
The Center for Environmental Health accused the entertainment giant of selling bracelets with paint and plastic laden with lead and threatened legal action if it doesn't pull the toys from retail stores and Disneyland shops. It alleged that a Disney Princess bracelet key ring manufactured by Monogram International and a mood bracelet and necklace made by an unnamed manufacturer could pose health hazards to children who put them in their mouths.
"We want to see Disney, because of its reputation and how well it's known, to take responsibility," said Michael Green, the Oakland-based advocacy group's executive director. "Our intention is to get Disney to take the lead out of children's jewelry."
The group claimed the mood jewelry, labeled "lead free," had a lead content of at least 11,000 parts per million. A glossy coating on one Disney children's bracelet contained more than 275 times the legal limit for lead in paint set by Proposition 65, the state's anti-toxics law, according to the CEH.
Under that law, the attorney general has 60 days to decide whether to take action or leave the nonprofit to file a lawsuit.
Disney Consumer Products issued a statement, however, insisting the company's products are safe.
"Disney-licensed character products are required to meet all federal product safety regulations and environmental standards and Disney's own- labeled products sold at the Disneyland Resort are tested by Disney to meet or exceed those regulations and standards," the statement said.
Green said that after CEH filed a legal notice of intent to sue the day before, Disney representatives called to ask which products were allegedly contaminated.
At the end of its press conference, CEH dressed a representative in an oversized rodent costume with a strong resemblance to Disney's Mickey Mouse. The group stressed that its mouse, clad in a tuxedo, bow tie and athletic sandals and with a black ponytail poking from its head, was named "Mikey."
Mikey and Green, walking hand-in-hand to Disney's front gate, attempted to deliver a letter to outgoing chief executive officer Michael Eisner and successor Robert Iger.
Security guards ordered them off the lot and refused to take the package. The duo awaited a response for about 10 minutes, then left.
Group: Disney jewelry has lead
Suit threatened if toys not removed
By Daily News Staff and Wire Services
Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - BURBANK - Children's jewelry sold by The Walt Disney Co. contains dangerously toxic levels of lead, an environmental group charged Tuesday.
The Center for Environmental Health accused the entertainment giant of selling bracelets with paint and plastic laden with lead and threatened legal action if it doesn't pull the toys from retail stores and Disneyland shops. It alleged that a Disney Princess bracelet key ring manufactured by Monogram International and a mood bracelet and necklace made by an unnamed manufacturer could pose health hazards to children who put them in their mouths.
"We want to see Disney, because of its reputation and how well it's known, to take responsibility," said Michael Green, the Oakland-based advocacy group's executive director. "Our intention is to get Disney to take the lead out of children's jewelry."
The group claimed the mood jewelry, labeled "lead free," had a lead content of at least 11,000 parts per million. A glossy coating on one Disney children's bracelet contained more than 275 times the legal limit for lead in paint set by Proposition 65, the state's anti-toxics law, according to the CEH.
Under that law, the attorney general has 60 days to decide whether to take action or leave the nonprofit to file a lawsuit.
Disney Consumer Products issued a statement, however, insisting the company's products are safe.
"Disney-licensed character products are required to meet all federal product safety regulations and environmental standards and Disney's own- labeled products sold at the Disneyland Resort are tested by Disney to meet or exceed those regulations and standards," the statement said.
Green said that after CEH filed a legal notice of intent to sue the day before, Disney representatives called to ask which products were allegedly contaminated.
At the end of its press conference, CEH dressed a representative in an oversized rodent costume with a strong resemblance to Disney's Mickey Mouse. The group stressed that its mouse, clad in a tuxedo, bow tie and athletic sandals and with a black ponytail poking from its head, was named "Mikey."
Mikey and Green, walking hand-in-hand to Disney's front gate, attempted to deliver a letter to outgoing chief executive officer Michael Eisner and successor Robert Iger.
Security guards ordered them off the lot and refused to take the package. The duo awaited a response for about 10 minutes, then left.