The Recall Desk
HighCPSC·01193·Announced 2001-07-10

Advantage Publishers Recalls Educational Kits Containing Lead Paint

Advantage Publishers Group is recalling 'Let's Start Numbers' and 'Optical Illusions Lab' kits because specific components contain lead paint.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves lead paint, a high-risk hazard for children, but the source explicitly states that no injuries or incidents have been reported, fitting the 'High' severity criteria for risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

Advantage Publishers Group, of San Diego, Calif., is recalling approximately 160,000 units of the "Let's Start™ Numbers" and "Optical Illusions Lab" educational kits. The recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on July 10, 2001. The kits were sold at retail stores, national book chains, wholesalers, distributors, and membership warehouse clubs nationwide from February 1999 through May 2001 for between $13 and $20.

The hazard involves lead paint on specific components. The red painted numbers on the acetate stencil sheet included in the "Let's Start™" kit contain lead. Additionally, the gold paint bearing the words "Kasy's Extrafine" on the black pen included in the "Optical Illusions" kit contains lead. Lead poisoning is a serious hazard to children, associated with behavioral problems, learning disabilities, hearing problems, and growth retardation. CPSC and Advantage Publishers Group have not received any reports of incidents or injuries related to these products.

Consumers should immediately remove the stencil sheets and pens from the activity kits and discard them. Customers can call Advantage Publishers Group to order a replacement piece. For more information, consumers can contact Lilian Shia at 858-450-3556 or Lynn Brennan at 858-457-2500 X-2575, or visit www.advantagebooksonline.com.

The recalled product

Product
Let's Start™ Numbers and "Optical Illusions Lab" educational kits
Manufacturer
Advantage Publishers Group, of San Diego, Calif.
Category
Consumer Product — Educational Toys
Hazard
Affected units
160,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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Same hazard · lead poisoning

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