Shipment of lead-contaminated kids' Halloween costumes seized
SEATTLE -- Government inspectors have seized nearly 1,400 lead-contaminated children's Halloween costumes that were en route to Seattle-area stores.
The costumes, made in China, had small buttons that contain 11 times the legal level of lead.
The shipment was one of the targeted loads diverted from the Port of Seattle to a U.S. customs warehouse to be opened and inspected for safety.
"There's a variety of reasons that we target," said Doug McBride of U.S. customs. "Previous violators would be one. Country of origin would be another, destination of the product, who the product's going to in the United States."
Last year, customs agents stopped more than 11,000 shipments of lead-contaminated products.
"You go home at the end of the week knowing you made a difference, made an impact and kept some child from getting sick, or prevented someone's house from burning down," said Craig Mabie of the Consumer Products Safety Commission.
The costumes, made in China, had small buttons that contain 11 times the legal level of lead.
The shipment was one of the targeted loads diverted from the Port of Seattle to a U.S. customs warehouse to be opened and inspected for safety.
"There's a variety of reasons that we target," said Doug McBride of U.S. customs. "Previous violators would be one. Country of origin would be another, destination of the product, who the product's going to in the United States."
Last year, customs agents stopped more than 11,000 shipments of lead-contaminated products.
"You go home at the end of the week knowing you made a difference, made an impact and kept some child from getting sick, or prevented someone's house from burning down," said Craig Mabie of the Consumer Products Safety Commission.
Anyone know of a place to take a costume to to have it checked? My daughter doesn't have this costume, but has one made by the same company.
China still trying to make that fast buck at our expense.
This Chinese computer I am using works pretty good.
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I would be more concerned about people dressing their little girls up like slutty pirates, than the content of the buttons on it.Â
China again. <sigh>
Sorry, but the alliteration of the name of this costume stopped one word short.
Is that really a costume for a 9 year old?
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This is continual with the products imported from China. I am sure the US regulators are only identifying very few contaminated products. Why not just ban imports from China? And don't tell me it is a global economy.
 @Tolly371 ban imports from china and tell you it's not global economy... name one thing in your house that's not made in china.
Much of what I own was NOT made in China. I am a prolific label reader and avoid Chinese products. We already have bans on lead from China, so how could these items have even been manufactured for import to this country in the first place? You also realize that their alternative, Chromium, is just as dangerous but this country hasn't outright banned it yet either. The bottom dollar is the bottom line and until this country actually stands by its word to prevent these products from entering the country, I encourage everyone to read every label carefully and consciously CHOOSE to buy items made in other countries or the USA...
Wait a minute... Obama want's to penalize China for doing this stuff, he is running for re-election on this, he wouldn't LIE ABOUT IT WOULD HE?!!! Not Obama?!!!
 @blaster as opposed to Romney who's instead shipped stuff to China.... what you ask... oh yeah... Bain jobs. Gosh Blaster... you aren't the only one with a political key on your keyboard = 0
 @blaster of course, I don't type in eye popping all caps like you... which is the news forum version of listening to Glen Beck scream
right on they are out to get our kids at a corporate profit... lame  sad but true
China. Â It's going to get us, one way or another.
 @belsnickles I would like to ship them back something in return...... Every last piece of garbage they have sent over here. China continues to wage cyber war, steal our technology and continues to export tainted goods to the United States. The everyday Chinese people are great it's their leadership that loathes our way of life.
@Funky-Munky I'm honestly starting to think that these sorts of adulterations are a calculated way of recycling waste products and toxic manufacturing by-products. Got some melamine you don't know what to do with? Into the dog treats with it. Lead? Let's put it in kids' jewelry and costumes and ship it out. Hey, making Americans dumber can only be a good thing from their perspective.
 @Funky-Munky I would counter that the Chinese government LOVES our way of life. It allows them (Chinese) to dump all sorts of garbage on us that they wouldn't sell to their own people.
 @Furd Thank you Furd for the truth... Ha! Ha! still laughing....  :D)
How many more poison-laced products from them are out there that HAVEN'T been found? And what about all the poison-chemical contaminated drywall boards they sold us a few years ago? Is this all just another form of chemical warfare or what's going on?
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_drywall
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BOYCOTT THE PRC. END "OUTSOURCING". BRING OUR INDUSTRY HOME... NOW!
 @TheTruncheon I try very hard to buy American products. I am struggling everyday to find household products made in the U.S.A.! Every American should try to avoid all things Chinese except for the food, everyday people and their culture. The war for me is their leadership, tainted products and continued lies pertaining to cyber attacks, inaction to help others and finally the oppression of Tibetan Monks.
Thank you customs. Now can you stop shipments of illegals?Â
 @Alaska316 And then stamp all the ones infiltrated here "RETURN TO SENDER"... before kicking them all out!
Lead laced clothing from China? Gee, who'da thunk it?