Metal found in Valentine candy

[Darediva]

And we thought it only happened at Halloween. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080215/ap_on_re_us/candy_blade)

[Sally Sensational]

And we thought it only happened at Halloween. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080215/ap_on_re_us/candy_blade)

Just say no to things made in China!

[Darediva]

Another reason to watch what you buy at the cheapo dollar stores.

[Liberty Belle Fan]

That's just sad. There's enough crazy stuff thrown at people in life to not have to also worry about candy on all of the holidays now.

[TomStillwell]

Maybe it was Tenzil Kem's candy?

[The Xenos]

Well if you're buying cheap (likley bootleg) Chinese Pokemon candy from the dollar store, you get what you pay for.

[DocAbsurd]

No, wait; it gets better.

Momma called right after dinner last night, all panicky about her babies. She saw the report on the candy but also heard those same valentines had high lead content in the ink on the cards themselves.

I guess the FDA is gonna be doing their own tests. After the horse has run out, of course. Ah, yes, 'most favored nation' trading status does have its advantages.

[Matt Doc Martin]

And we thought it only happened at Halloween. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080215/ap_on_re_us/candy_blade)

My plan is working!

[LewisH]

now is the perfect time for some shrewd businessman to start a made in USA toy and candy store. And if he can't find products to stock it, to start a candy factory and toy assembly plant as well. Charge about double what the made in China stuff does and advertise it as Good Safe Fun Made in the USA. Even with the higher overhead of US minimum wage and REAL quality control.
I'm betting you could still make a good profit thanks to China's constant screw ups.

[Solaris]

Thanks for the heads up, Diva. I printed out a copy of the story and dropped it by Finn's school---he came home with a hard candy heart, though it was on a wooden stick versus the white hollow plastic one in the pic.

As for "don't buy 'made in China'"... I don't think they put that label on stuff like Candy.

And I hope somebody starts some class action lawsuits against these companies who are getting kids' stuff made in China---if the quality control there is so poor, quit putting business there. And the only way they're gonna quit, is if the consumers start kicking them about it; and that usually means class action law suit.

[Dr Ray Palmer]

I think the FDA should just add a recommended daily allowance of lead to the Nutrition Facts on everything, since we're all apparently ingesting it all the time anyway.

[Solaris]

Well if you're buying cheap (likley bootleg) Chinese Pokemon candy from the dollar store, you get what you pay for.

No, you DON'T.

Our whole consumer system is based on governmental guarantees that the products on our shelves meet basic safety standards. US candy manufacturers can churn out cheap candy by using cheap sugars, etc., or turn out high end stuff. "Cheap" doesn't mean "made to no quality control." If it did, Dum-dums would've been off the shelves years ago.

And, may I add, lots of times candies in the dollar store are simply overstock that the manufacturer can't market somewhere else.

The point is, we trust that products on the shelves here meet FDA etc. safety standards on basic stuff like quality control, lead content, etc.

If certain companies are getting away with selling cheaper product because it's from overseas and it's not being quality controlled, we have a problem. And since, from these several incidents in various child-supply industries (toys and now candy) it's apparent that the Chinese government is NOT doing what they ought to ensure safety on THEIR end... we either need to place an embargo on those kinds of products from China, or institute quality control checks on our end, before the stuff ever hits the shelves.

And if our govt. has to put in those kinds of controls, it's gonna drive up the cost of importing the goods, hopefully to the point that the companies who are getting their shit made over THERE, will give it up and start making it at home.

And yes, I'm pissed. If I buy something for my son, I expect that it's not going to contain lead paint, harmful levels of other chemicals, and that the manufacturer will have protections in place so that nutballs can't put metal crap in the candy during the manufacturing process. American companies aren't immune to the latter; but when it happens, there's enough hue, cry, and government censure that the company has to fix it.

Obviously, things work different in China, since we've seen so many basic safety issues with child products within a one year time span.

And at this point, you can bet I'm looking on every toy and candy I buy him, to see if it says "Made in China." If it does, it's going back on the shelf to rot.

[The Xenos]

Well, I should say, people should just avoid all cheap products made in China, especially for children.

Well um.. except for.. oh yeah.. Our entire economy is based on cheap products made in China, especially for children.

Though I still argue that stuff you find at a dollar store is borderline bootleg. Parents should be aware of companies and which ones can be trusted. I know. It's near impossible, especially poorer familes who don't have the time or money to invest, but there's a point where this stuff is gonna slip through the cracks. This stuff is sure to pop up especially at cheap dollar stores or Chinatown bootleg stores. (Though i confess I love me some terrible bootleg toys from those stores.)

[Darediva]

Well, I should say, people should just avoid all cheap products made in China, especially for children. (snip)

(Though i confess I love me some terrible bootleg toys from those stores.)

I like to browse in the cheap stores a lot. Many things make me laugh. But I am not buying toys for kids there. Any bootlegs I find are for me. Best one so far: Terrible DD bootleg in three colors with a light up belt buckle. WTF?

[sk716]

My plan is working!

See as soon as I saw the location, my first thought was "Matt's been up to no good." :p

[The Xenos]

I like to browse in the cheap stores a lot. Many things make me laugh. But I am not buying toys for kids there. Any bootlegs I find are for me. Best one so far: Terrible DD bootleg in three colors with a light up belt buckle. WTF?

Ha. I bought that for a friend of mine who hated the Daredevil movie more than I did.