December 19, 2006

Alert #07-513

Celebrate Express Inc. Recalls Gigantic Gemstone Ring Party Favors Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Gigantic Gemstone Ring.

Units: About 194,000 rings.

Distributor/Importer: Celebrate Express Inc., of Kirkland, Wash.

Hazard: The recalled rings could contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Incidents/Injuries: No injuries or incidents have been reported.

Description: The recalled children's Gigantic Gemstone Ring toy is a silver-colored metallic ring with a large plastic gemstone. The gemstone colors include: blue, red, purple, green and clear. The rings were sold individually and as part of various party favor, costume and heirloom sets.

Sold at: Celebrate Express' Birthday Express, Costume Express and Storybook Heirlooms Web sites and catalogs, and at the Birthday Express retail outlet store located in Kirkland, Wash. The recalled products were sold from October 2003 through October 2006 for about $1.50.

Manufactured in: China.

Remedy: Consumers should take the recalled party favors away from children immediately and contact the company for a refund. Celebrate Express has directly contacted purchasers of the products by mail.

Consumer Contact: Call Celebrate Express at (888) 551-3995 between 4:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.celebrateexpress.com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products — such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals — contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270 or visit CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.