One of the biggest
sportswear manufacturers
Reebok is recalling 145,000
charm bracelets after an American
child died from swallowing a link. It is thought that the
death was caused by lead poisoning.
The heart-shaped charm bracelets are eight inches long and are made from a silver coloured
metal with Reebok engraved on the
heart, were given as a free
gift in Britain,
Ireland and the
United States with every
sale of children’s shoes.
However there are now fears that the bracelets contain toxic quantities of lead. A spokesman for the
company said, "Reebok is recalling approximately 145,000 metal charm bracelets which have been distributed in the UK and Ireland.
"This voluntary recall is being conducted because the bracelet may contain high levels of lead.
"Reebok is aware of the death from lead poisoning of a child who has reportedly swallowed a piece from one of these bracelets."
Over 450,000 bracelets were manufactured in China by a
supplier that Reebok have not used before. The warning given to parents is to remove the item from their children’s possession and disposed of.
300,000 bracelets were being recalled in America where it was confirmed that the
jewellery contained high levels of lead, "posing a risk of lead poisoning and adverse
health effects to young children".
The bracelets have been given away with children’s
footwear costing between £15 and £30 since December 2004 in the UK. About 145,000 pairs of shoes were sold to retailers. The company are now trying to find out how many of the bracelets can be recalled and how many have been given out with the shoes to children.
Reebok International's president, Paul Harrington, said the company was "saddened" by the death of the four-year-old boy, Jarnell Graham, in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, last month.
He said, "We recognise that Reebok has an unequivocal responsibility to publicly address this tragedy and to work very hard to ensure that what might have contributed to this death never happens again.
"I will do everything in my power to ensure that no other family, no other child, suffers from a similar tragedy."
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