WASHINGTON – Target has decided to stop selling two fidget spinners that were found to contain high levels of lead, according to a consumer advocacy group's report.
Earlier this week, U.S. Public Interest Research Group blasted the retail giant for not immediately recalling the fidget spinners. Despite the two products being sold in the toy aisle, Target argued that they were for "general use" and were not deemed children's products by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
After news of the PIRG report spread, Target reversed their stance and decided to stop carrying the two items, the Fidget Wild Premium Spinner Brass and the Fidget Wild Premium Spinner Metal, issuing this statement Friday:
U.S. PIRG Toxics Director Kara Cook-Schultz praised the decision in a statement, saying:
Lab reports found that the two fidget spinners contained high levels of lead, well over the federal legal limit of 100 parts per million.
The report found the Fidget Wild Premium Spinner Brass tested at 300 times the allowed lead amount for children's toys, while the Fidget Wild Premium Spinner in Metal tested at 13 times the allowed level.
Products that are designated for general use can include higher lead levels than those for children.
The CPSC says on its website that "most fidget spinners are general use products unless they are primarily intended for children 12 years of age and younger."
In determining if they are for children or not, the CPSC looks at the following, "whether the product and packaging designs are primarily intended to appeal to a child 12 years of age and younger, and the product’s age grading."
Danny Katz, director of PIRG, blasted the "general use" classification, saying Thursday, “All fidget spinners have play value as children’s toys regardless of age labeling.”
Exposure to high amounts of lead have been shown to cause lead poisoning that can lead to organ damage and long-term health problems.
The CPSC posted this guidance for parents on its website:
Fidget spinners and children:
In September, WITI sent fidget spinners from Amazon, Walmart and Target to a lab for testing. While the fidget spinners from Target didn't test above the allowable level of lead for children, multiple spinners from Amazon and one that was sold online by Walmart did:
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Lead in some fidget spinners
Lead in some fidget spinners