by Angie Pollock

Created on: June 04, 2010

Just weeks after Walmart pulled several brands of jewelry including Miley Cyrus jewelry for high amounts of cadmium, McDonald’s announced they will be recalling their new line of “Shrek” themed glasses. Over 10 million drinking glasses that were sold at McDonald’s were found to have cadmium in the paint that creates the “Shrek” designs on the glasses.

As a promotion for the new “Shrek Forever After” movie, McDonald’s began selling the glasses nationwide for about $2 each. The glasses were to be highly popular as a collectible since this Shrek movie is advertised as being the final movie being made about the character by DreamWorks. Now with the recall, these glasses could become even more highly collectible since they will no longer be sold at McDonald’s.

Cadmium has been used for many years as a pigment but its recent use has been limited due to its high toxicity levels. According to the Centers of Disease Control (CDC), exposure to cadmium can occur via both inhalation and ingestion.  Exposure can affect respiratory system, kidneys, prostate, and the blood.

The general population can be affected by cadmium by other means than just man-made products. Exposure can occur from both cigarette smoke and contaminated foods and water. Cadmium is a natural element that can be extracted from other metals like lead and zinc. Because cadmium doesn’t corrode as easily as other metals, it is a common element used as a coating for products like batteries.

Cadmium can be found every day in our environment which can contaminate the soil and the water we drink. Anyone who smokes is exposed to some level of cadmium. Exposure to cadmium over a long period of time can damage the lungs and kidneys. High levels of cadmium exposure can dramatically affect a person’s health.

The worry over the Shrek glasses is geared towards the paint which can inadvertently be ingested. Should the paint rub off on the hands and the hands are put in the mouth, the cadmium could be potentially harmful. Since children are prone to put their hands in their mouth, the cadmium in the glasses is worrisome especially for children.

Scott Wolfson from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) stated that the amounts of cadmium tested in the paint were “slightly above the protective level currently being developed by the agency.” He also said that the levels of cadmium found on the glasses were “far less” than what was found in the metal jewelry that was recalled by the CPSC.

Bill Whitman, spokesman for McDonald’s USA, says that they “believe the Shrek glassware is safe for consumer use” but to ensure customer safety, they “made the decision to stop selling them and voluntarily recall these products effective immediately”.

People who want a refund for the glasses will have to wait until McDonald’s releases return information on their website. Until then, the CPSC highly recommends that consumers cease using the glasses.

Sources:

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0087.html

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/McDonalds-pulls-apf-41 64098492.html?x=0

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37504287/ns/health-food_ safety/

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