WEEDA TANKARD – Copper Plated Souvenir was recalled from 30 June 1988 because "acidic liquids can cause lead to leach in certain circumstances. One known lead poisoning in Alice Springs." Sold nationally and supplied by Weeda Tasmania. File closed 20 Jan 1993. Success rate on recall - NOT STATED.

PLAYGYM – model PGY0110 was recalled from 22 Feb 1989 because "Red paint on the PLAYGYM contains more than 11 times the accepted level of lead." Sold nationally, supplied by Action Trampolines and Gymnastic Equipment. File closed on 28 November 1989 with 20% recall SUCCESS RATE.

BLINDS – Spotlight PVC Mini Venetian were recalled from 10 July 1996 because these blinds may contain unhealthy levels of lead." Sold nationally, supplied by Spotlight Store Pty. Ltd. [Spotlight provided an exchange - a leaded blind for a non-leaded blind - even for PVC miniblinds not purchased from Spotlight. It is curious why this recall only applied to Spotlight when leaded PVC miniblinds were widely available from a range of homeware, hardware and department stores.] File closed 29 Jan 1997. Success rate on recall - NOT STATED.

BRITDIS TEAPOT was recalled nationally from 2 Feb 1999 because it was "produced with lead solder. Does not comply with Clause 24 of the Food (General) Regulation 1997 with respect to leachable lead." This product posed a medium risk of lead poisoning. Britdis teapots were sold nationally and supplied by Zyliss Aust. Pty. Ltd. File closed 24 June 1999. Success rate on recall - NOT STATED.

[BRITDIS TEAPOT -  7 April 2003  it was claimed by United Housewares that shortly after the recall there was a change of manufacturer and lead was no longer used.]

For information on Australian leaded product recalls, go to the website http://www.recalls.gov.au/
For comprehensive information on US leaded product recalls go to http://www.cpsc.gov/  
and to comment on the petition to ban leaded candle wicks in the USA, go to http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/frnotices/fr00/wicks.html

UPDATE AS AT MID-JUNE 2007:

USA Leaded Consumer Product Recalls 
The US CPSC banned lead core wick candles on 7th April 2003, if you search the US CPSC website for the phrase "due to lead", the Google current site search results show 50 consumer products recalled due to lead poisoning hazards. But the full list of  consumer product recalls by the CPSC due to lead poisoning hazards is most easily viewed at http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/lead/recalls.shtml where recalls are listed by year as follows: 2 recalls in 2002, 5 recalls in 2003, 4 in 2004, 11 in 2005, 20 in 2006 and 27 recalls to date in 2007.
The Centers for Disease Control have put all the products recalled in the US for lead hazards since 2004 on one page (approximately 80 different products) and also lists the products by categories (toys, crafts, clothing, office equipment etc.).
See www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/Recalls/default.htm

More Australian Leaded Consumer Product Recalls

In Australia, lead testing of consumer products is far less common and it is impractical to search the list of consumer product recalls at http://www.recalls.gov.au because the search engine on the site cannot be searched on the basis of the reason for recall and no standard phrase such as "due to lead" "lead hazard" "lead paint" or "lead poisoning" is used in the recall notices and "lead" appears in the common phrases "may lead to" and "lead to injury" etc.

The Australian recalls that have come to The LEAD Group's attention since the four listed above (as at April 2000) are:

5. Conscious Candle Company Groovy Candle recalled because they may contain lead in the wicks. Date: 20/12/2000. Supplier Name: Target Australia Pty Ltd. National recall. Product Info: 3-wick Conscious Candles sold through Target & Target Home Stores from June 1999 to 1 November 2000. The candles are 15cm high, 15cm diameter and are cream or dark brown in colour. Vertical grooves along the sides are a distinguishing feature. Return to store for refund.

6. The Lead Soldier Collection: Men at War 1914-1945, due to high lead content. Date: 08/08/2001. Supplier Name: Gordon and Gotch Pty Ltd. National recall. Option: return the soldiers and place an order with your newsagent for an identical replacement soldier made of Fine Pewter.

7. Zen Candles recalled because they contain lead wicks. Date: 15/10/2001. Supplier Name: Everything Here $2 Store. Product Info: Zen Candles are small Pot shaped candles with Chinese letters on the side. White with Black writing, and Red with Black writing. Sold at Everything Here $2 stores in NSW, Vic, and SA. Return to store for refund.

8. Pollyresin Frog Figurine with Candle recalled nationally because the candle sold with frog figurine has an unacceptable lead content in the wick. Date: 18/09/2003. Supplier Name: Bonnet Imports Pty Limited. Product Info: Item 5633. Consumer action: Consumers should either replace the candle, or return the product to the place of purchase for a refund. For further information contact Bonnet Imports Pty Limited on Phone (02) 9531 8377 or email bonnae@bigpond.com

9. White Wings cornflour 300 G recalled because it contains lead above the level permitted in the Food Standards Code. Date: 27/07/2004. Supplier Name: White Wings Foods. Product Info: Best before dates: 30/09/04; 01/10/04;02/10/04; 07/10/04; 08/10/04; 09/10/04; and 10/10/04 APN:9310060006432 TUN:29310060701720 Cardboard packet 300 g Country of origin: New Zealand. Product packed by Bluebird Foods a division of Goodman Fielder Cons. Return to store for refund.

10. Russell Hobbs Mona Kettle recalled nationally due to the possibility that the kettle may leak lead into the water. Date: 15/03/2005. Supplier Name: Russell Hobbs. Product Info: Russell Hobbs Mona Kettle Model 3022 (polished stainless steel) and model 3023 (Brushed stainless steel). Available in Australia since June 2003. Consumer action: Stop using the Russell Hobbs Mona Kettle immediately and contact the Salton customer service department on 1800 190 400 for instructions on receiving a refund.

11. Select Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway Brand Products recalled due to surface paint containing lead. Date: 13/06/2007. Supplier Name: RC2 trading as Learning Curve Australia. Product Info: 

sold in Australia between January 2005 and November 2006. Full pictures of recalled items can be viewed at www.rc2aust.com.au. Return to store for replacement item and free toy vehicle. 

UPDATE as at 2nd August 2007.

12. Fisher-Price Licensed Character Toys recalled globally due to being painted with lead paint. See www.recalls.gov.au for the list of model names and numbers recalled in Australia. All affected toys are marked Fisher-Price and have a date code between 109-7LF and 187-7LF marked on the product. Consumers should immediately take any affected toys away from children and contact Mattel Pty Ltd on toll-free 1800 674 753 between Monday to Friday 8am until 5pm (Australian EST) or visit www.service.mattel.com to determine if product is affected and to arrange for the return of affected toys. Do not return recalled product to retail stores. Consumers will receive cash refunds to the value of the returned product.

UPDATE as at 14th August 2007

13. A further 400,000 die-cast cars modelled after the Cars cartoon movie character “Sarge“ that contains excessive amounts of lead paint have been added to the list of recalls by Mattel

UPDATE as at 5 September 2007

14. A total of six toys are being voluntarily recalled in Australia, including five pet and furniture playsets sold under the Barbie® brand and one Fisher-Price® toy, due to impermissible levels of lead.
Surface paint on the toys may contain increased levels of lead, which if ingested, may have health ramifications. There have been no reports of injuries involving the affected products in Australia or overseas. The five Mattel® Barbie®-branded toys being recalled in Australia were sold between November 2006 and August 2007 and contain the following model numbers: K8606 - Barbie® Table & Chairs Kitchen Playset, Accessory Affected: yellow food on two dinner plates; Brown on miniature dog; and orange on potato chip bowl; Orange on salad bowl. K8607 Barbie® Bathtub & Toilet Playset, Accessory Affected: Brown paint on miniature cat. K8608 Barbie® Living Room Playset, Accessory Affected: Brown paint on miniature cat. K8609 Barbie® Desk & Chair Bedroom Playset, Accessory Items Affected: Brown paint on miniature dog, and K8613 Barbie® Living Room Playset, Accessory Affected: Yellow flowers on handbag.
NO Barbie® dolls are included within the recall.
Mattel® is also recalling the Fisher-Price® GEOTRAX™ Rail & Road System Freightway Transport™ toy, which contains the following model numbers: B4342 or H5705. Affected Item: Yellow headlights on train & miniature ladder. The affected toy was manufactured between July 31, 2006 and September 4, 2006.

Consumer action: Consumers should immediately take any affected toys away from children. There are three ways to contact Mattel to determine if your product is affected: Visit Mattel's website at www.service.mattel.com and click through to your country. Email Mattel via - infoaust@mattel.com. Call Mattel Australia on toll-free 1800 674 753 between Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm (Aust EST). Do not return recalled product to retail stores. Consumers will receive a refund to the value of the returned product. Please note, consumers do not need to have the toy's original packaging or a receipt to return affected products to Mattel.

The US recalls include: