Recent tests by the Center for Environmental Health found lead levels in excess of allowable amounts in toys and baby products sold at Walmart and Target. But while Target has agreed to stop selling the items at all its stores, Walmart has only agreed to pull the products in question from stores in California.

Target has told CEH that it will remove the two high chairs — the “Broadway” and the “VIP” — found to contain more than the legal limit for lead. One chair was found to contain 70 times the legal limit.

The CEH’s test of products sold at WalMart found high lead levels in a toddlers’ bean bag chairs, youth boxing gloves and toy foam beads sold for children’s jewelry (all pictured above). The items ranged from more than 3 times to more than 45 times the legal limit.

A rep for Walmart tells the AP that the retail giant is putting a halt to sales of these products in California and from Walmart.com.

Says CEH’s Research Director:

We cannot understand how WalMart can continue to sell these lead-tainted products to children in any state, or any country… It’s been more than two years since federal law established strict limits to protect children from these kinds of lead threats. Clearly WalMart needs to do better for our families.

Additionally, the study found high levels of lead in three adult jewelry items — two plastic necklace cords and a plastic choker.

The California Attorney General’s office, which provided a grant to CEH for the study, has contacted the retailers to demand an end to all sales of lead-tainted items.

As always, Walmart says it is taking the matter seriously:

The safety of customers and their children is a top priority of Walmart, and we have established testing standards with our suppliers to ensure the quality and safety of our products.

CEH has also submitted its finding to the Consumer Product Safety Commission in the hope of having a recall issued.

Group finds lead in Walmart, Target children’s products [Delmarvanow.com]

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