Reebok Agrees to Pay $1 Million For Toxic Bracelets

Scott Kappes

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Yesterday the popular athletic apparel company Reebok agreed to pay a $1 million fine for distributing Chinese made bracelets containing toxic levels of lead. The bracelets were provided as free gifts with the purchase of certain styles of children's shoes. In 2006 a 4 year-old boy from Minneapolis died after swallowing the bracelet's heart shaped charm. The fine was the largest ever handed down for a violation Federal Hazardous Substances Act.

In April of 2006 the company announced a worldwide recall of 510,000 bracelets. The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has seen a rash of recalls over the past year over excessive levels of lead in Chinese made toys. Reebok says that they have put in place measures to ensure that they never again distribute any items that do not exceed the highest levels of safety standards.

"This civil penalty sends a clear message that the CPSC will not allow companies to put children's safety at risk," Acting CPSC Chairman Nancy Nord said in a release.