Shure Products, Toys R Us Recall Art Set With Lead Poisoning Hazard

Washington, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Shure Products Inc., Chicago, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 14,000 "Kaleidoscope Art" sets, item number 820.

Although the product box is labelled "non-toxic" and "conforms to ASTM D4236" (an art products safety labeling standard), these crayons contain enough lead to present a lead poisoning risk to young children, who might eat or chew on the crayons. Shure Products and Toys R Us, the retailer for these sets, initiated the recall after CPSC laboratory analyses showed that Kaleidoscope Art set crayons had high levels of lead.

The Kaleidoscope Art sets, which Shure imported from China, were sold nationwide by Toys R Us from January through August 1994. Each Kaleidoscope Art set contains a box of eight crayons, six sheets of "line art" (geometric shapes to color), and a six-inch kaleidoscope. Children are supposed to color in the geometric shapes and view them through the kaleidoscope. The set is labeled "Ages 4 & up."

Consumers who own the Kaleidoscope Art sets should take them away from children immediately and return them to Toys R Us for a refund. For more information about this recall, consumers may call Shure Products Inc., at (312) 633-9002 or write to Richard Moy, consumer affairs manager, Shure Products Inc., 1474 West Hubbard Street, Chicago, Ill. 60622.

CPSC learned of the problem with these art sets from the New York State Consumer Protection Board. According to Shure, they had the products tested in the appropriate manner at a private testing laboratory.

Although CPSC and Shure Products Inc. have not received any reports of injuries or illnesses involving Kaleidoscope Art sets, the commission and the company are conducting this recall to prevent the possibility of injury or illness.