NEWARK – Investigators from the state Division of Consumer Affairs have found toys which were recalled for potential lead contamination on sale in nine stores in New Jersey following statewide inspections conducted within the past week, Attorney General Anne Milgram and Acting Consumer Affairs Director Larry DeMarzo announced today.

Division investigators, working in conjunction with staff from consumer affairs offices in Camden, Cumberland, Hunterdon, Monmouth, Passaic and Union counties, checked whether recalled toys were available for purchase at 160 stores across New Jersey. The federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has sole authority to order the recall of toys.

“The fact that our investigators found recalled items available for purchase underscores the need for shoppers to be vigilant about toy safety this holiday season,” Attorney General Anne Milgram said. “Black Friday marks the traditional start of holiday shopping and consumers should check the CPSC’s toy recall list before making their own shopping lists.”

In cooperation with the state Department of Education, the Division of Consumer Affairs has written a letter about toy safety and recent toy recalls that is being provided to school districts throughout the state. Schools are being asked to provide copies of the letter to grade school children to take home to their parents.

The Division of Consumer Affairs also has issued subpoenas to New Jersey-based toy manufacturers and distributors, including Toys R Us, Inc., Buy-Rite Designs, Inc., GuideCraft, Inc., and Henry Gordy International, Inc., seeking information about their lead testing and product safety protocols and for identification of any toys that they imported from China.

Consumer Affairs’ investigators went to stores in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties to check for recalled toys. The following stores had recalled toys on shelves and also failed to have recall notices posted:

• Cost Cutters, 521 Livingston Avenue, Norwood
• Cost Cutters, 175 Locust Avenue, West Long Branch
• Cost Cutters, Rt. 202 at Comly Road, Lincoln Park
• Cost Cutters, 190 Elmora Avenue, Elizabeth
• Cost Cutters, 390 Route 206, Hillsborough
• Cost Cutters, Route 9 at First Avenue, Lacey Township
• Dollar Zone Plus, 421 Broadway, Gloucester City
• Lot-Less Closeout Inc., 683 Broad Street, Newark
• Family Dollar Store, 134 Smith Street, Perth Amboy

The Division of Consumer Affairs provides a link from its web site to the CPSC’s list of recalled toys: http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/recall/recalls.htm

“Recent recalls have including toys containing lead-based paint, as well as toys with small pieces and parts that may result in a child choking if these are swallowed,” Acting Director DeMarzo said. “We want consumers to be aware of these potential hazards and we expect stores to pull recalled items from their shelves.”

DeMarzo noted that investigators will continue to check stores for recalled toys throughout the holiday shopping season. Having recalled toys available for purchase and failing to post notice about recalled toys violates the state’s Consumer Fraud Act.

Consumers who believe a store is selling a voluntarily recalled toy without having public notice posted can call the Division of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-242-5846 (toll-free within New Jersey) or at 973-504-6200.

A copy of the letter from the Division of Consumer Affairs on toy safety and recent toy recalls is attached.

Toy Safety Letter