BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A children’s wheelbarrow and seven-piece gardening set have been recalled after paint used on the toys tested positive for lead, state health officials said Tuesday.
The “Stanley Jr. Kids Wheelbarrow and 7-piece Garden Set,” model number 1662178, has been recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The agency said the paint on the hoe and rake were found to contain lead levels exceeding the federal content ban.
“Consumers should immediately stop using the hoe and rake in the garden set."Pennsylvania Health Officials
“Lead can be harmful if ingested, especially for a young child,” state Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen said in a news release. “Parents and caregivers should not have to worry about their children’s toys making them sick.
“We want to get the recall message out to help protect and prevent potential harm to children. Product recalls like this are another example of why all young children should be routinely screened for lead exposure.”
The wheelbarrow has a white “Red Toolbox” label on the bottom and a manufacturing date of December 2023, officials said.
The recalled hoe and rake both have a yellow-painted long wooden handle with “Stanley Jr.” painted in black.
“Consumers should immediately stop using the hoe and rake in the garden set,” according to the release.
Replacements available
The released tells customers to visit Red Toolbox’s recall website for information on getting a free replacement hoe and rake.
Consumers must fill out a form and upload photos of disposing of these items, as well as the white label on the bottom of the wheelbarrow showing the December 2023 manufacturing date.
Costco is trying to contact all known purchasers directly, according to the release.
Parents and caregivers of children who may have used the set should contact their child’s health care provider about getting a blood lead test, officials said.
Between February and June, about 459,200 garden sets were sold for $35 exclusively through Costco at stores nationwide or online. There were 60,480 more sold in Canada.
Exposure to lead — which cannot be seen, tasted or smelled in drinking water — can build up over time, causing a range of health effects, according to the Mayo Clinic.
In children, lead poisoning can cause a developmental delay, learning difficulties, irritability, loss of appetite, weight loss, sluggishness and fatigue, abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, hearing loss, seizures and eating things, such as paint chips, that aren't food, according to the medical center.
