Feds expand scrutiny of children’s jewelry

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES

Federal regulators announced another recall of children’s jewelry with high levels of the toxic metal cadmium Monday, also saying they’ve expanded their investigation in an effort to keep dangerous items off store shelves in the first place.

A spokesman for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission told The Associated Press its inspectors at 10 of the nation’s largest ports are screening children’s jewelry — typically imported from China — for cadmium.

Word of increased scrutiny came as the agency announced the voluntary recall of about 19,000 “Best Friends” charm bracelet sets made in China and sold exclusively at the jewelry and accessories store Claire’s, which has more than 3,000 stores in North America and Europe.

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