In a news release, Build-A-Bear Workshop in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall Thursday of their Love.Hugs.Peace. lapel pins due to excessive levels of lead in the accessory’s surface paint, which is illegal.
The recall affects approximately 26,500 pins sold in the United States and 2,200 in Canada. The pin is has a 1.5 inch diameter and features images of a red heart, blue peace sign and a brown bear head in the foreground and a globe in the background. The phrase “love.hugs.peace.” is at the bottom of the lapel pin.
No injuries have been reported in connection to the pins, which were sold at Build-A-Bear Workshop stores nationwide and at the buildabear.com Web site from July 2009 through October 2010 for $3.50 in the U.S. and $4 (CDN) in Canada.
Consumers are advised to stop using the lapel pin and return it to any Build-A-Bear Workshop store in exchange for a $5 store coupon. If it is not possible to return the pin to a store, customers should contact Build-A-Bear Workshop for instructions on an alternate way of receiving a refund.
Lead has been shown to be harmful to children, affecting both physical and cognitive development. As a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, I encourage anyone who is has one of the lapel pins to stay healthy by returning it right away.