Wal-Mart baby bib recall due to risk of lead poisoning

By Carl Saiontz
Posted May 3, 2007

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A Wal-Mart baby bib recall has been announced as a result of excessive levels of lead discovered in the vinyl backing.  Lead poisoning poses a significant danger for children, and can lead to brain damage, behavioral problems, and learning disorders.  While lead poisoning is usually associated with babies eating lead paint chips which flake off of the walls in older buildings, experts indicate that if a piece of the baby bib were to deteriorate and be ingested, it could cause sufficiently elevated lead levels to raise concern.

>>INFORMATION: Lead poisoning Lawsuits

The bib recall applies to certain baby bibs manufactured since June 2004.  The baby bibs were sold under the brand name “Baby Connection” with prints or images of Sesame Street characters on them.  They are manufactured by Hamco, Inc. and are exclusively sold at WalMart Stores.

The Walmart baby bib recall applies to the following products:

• Baby Connection 2-Pack Feeder Bibs (UPC No. 01468102732) with textile terry cloth front, and white plastic sewn to the back
• Baby Connection 7-Pack Feeder Bibs (UPC No. 01468151077) with textile terry cloth front, and a white plastic back sewn on.
• Baby Connection 2-Pack Easy Wipe (UPC No. 01468152705) with a textile back, laminated with clear plastic front and a clear plastic pocket at the bottom of the front of the bib.

The Walmart recall was expanded to all stores nationwide, after initially being identified though an investigation by the Illinois attorney general’s office.  Walmart reports that at least 60,000 of the bibs were sold in Illinois, and it is unclear how many were sold nationwide.

Many are questioning why the bibs were not recalled earlier, since tests were commissioned by the Center for Environmental Health based in California in September 2006, which identified lead levels in the baby bibs that are 16 times higher than the amount of lead allowed in paint.

LEAD POISONING

Lead is sometimes used as a stabilizer in vinyl plastic, but it can be easily substituted, especially in products which could cause lead poisoning for a child.  The Wal-mart baby bibs raise concern since it is not uncommon for children to chew on their bibs, and if part of the plastic backing comes off and is eaten, it could lead to learning problems, reduced intelligence, hyperactivity or ADD.

Lead poisoning has been an issue for decades, especially among children living in cities or in older buildings.  Crumbling lead paint, which was banned in 1978, or playing in yards heavily contaminated with lead paint dust or emissions from leaded gasoline (which was phased out in the early 1990s) was previously identified as the greatest risk for causing lead poisoning.  According to the National Safety Council, 25% of U.S. homes still contain deteriorating lead paint.

It is important to have any children who may have been exposed to lead poisoning, either through lead paint of the recalled Walmart baby bibs, tested for high lead levels.  In recent years, many children are not screened regularly for high lead levels since the number of children affected has dropped dramatically.  Many doctors believe that universal testing is no longer cost effective, given the minimal risk.

LEAD PAINT POISONING LAWYERS

The lead poisoning lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent children who have been diagnosed with elevated lead levels after exposure to lead paint which was not properly maintained or removed.  At this time there have been no reported cases of lead poisoning as a result of the recalled baby bibs.  Any parents who purchased the recalled bibs and noticed that portions of the lead laced vinyl backing have deteriorated or come off, should immediately request a lead test from their physician.

Those who have the bibs and have not noticed any problems should contact Wal-Mart for a refund or product replacement.  At this time they have only offered a refund on bibs purchased in Illinois, but it appears likely that this will be expanded to all states.  Walmart can be reached at (877) 373-3812.

To speak with a lead poisoning lawyer regarding a child with elevated lead levels, contact our office toll free at (800) 522-0102 or request a free consultation.