Minnesota’s Chemicals in Products Interagency Team (CPIT), comprised of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), and Minnesota Department of Commerce (MDC), has completed testing and subsequent enforcement of off-brand Beyblades-style spinning battle toys found to contain high levels of lead and cadmium. The team took action in response to elevated blood lead levels reported in a Minnesota child.
MDC ultimately banned 15 items, and three online sellers (Amazon, AliExpress, and Wish) issued recall notices and refunds to customers. CPIT believes that the State of Washington’s 2019 agreement with Amazon to better control children’s school supplies and jewelry sales may have contributed to this recall of more than 2,200 toys across the U.S. and Canada.
The CPIT, which presented at the 2018 ECOS Spring Meeting in Saint Paul, Minnesota, intends to continue its work on product oversight and online sales practices.
Learn more about MPCA’s Safer Product Chemistry Program here.
