June 4, 2010
Fast food chain McDonalds said it is recalling about 12 million "Shrek Forever After 3D" drinking glasses because they found cadmium in the paint used on the designs.
Cadmium is a chemical element that is a known carcinogen. It was once a major component of nickel cadmium batteries but its industrial uses have been phased out in recent years, due to its toxicity.
The restaurant chain was selling the collectables -- promoting the recently released Shrek film -- for $2. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says consumers who purchased the glasses should stop using them immediately.
The glasses were manufactured in the U.S. by ARC International, of Millville, N.J. McDonalds started selling them last month. CPSC said it was made aware of issues with this product through the Office of Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), who says she was tipped off by an anonymous source.
Speier said she alerted the chairman of the CPSC, Inez Tenenbaum, who agreed to expedite testing of the products. Tested glasses were sent overnight to Speier's office. Additionally, other sources confirmed with Speier's office that cadmium had been found in glasses in California, Ohio and Massachusetts. The CPSC tested the products.
Soon after, McDonalds was alerted of Speier's concerns. This week, at the encouragement of the CPSC, McDonalds agreed to voluntarily recall 12 million "Shrek" glasses that have either been sold or are currently in stock at their restaurants.
"Our children's health should not depend on the consciences of anonymous sources," Speier said. "Although McDonalds did the right thing by recalling these products, we need stronger testing standards to ensure that all children's products are proven safe before they hit the shelves."
McDonalds said consumers who purchased a glass can get their money back. The company plans to post a special page on its website with additional instructions on how to obtain a full refund. For additional information, contact McDonalds toll-free at (800) 244-6227 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.
