[Vision2020] Importer Recalls Valentine Lollipops

[Tom Hansen]

Why are we still doing business with China (who also supports Darfur 
militias with weapons)?

>From the Associated Press at:

http://tinyurl.com/38nyf9

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Importer Recalls Valentine Lollipops
9 hours ago

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — The importer of a Valentine's Day lollipop said it 
was voluntarily recalling the treats after metal fragments were found in 
at least two lollipops sold at central Florida stores.

Sherwood Brands of Maryland, which imports the candy from China, said it 
was recalling all of its Pokemon Valentine Cards and Pops, which have been 
pulled from the shelves of thousands of stores across the country.

Roughly 20 lollipops were seized at Kathleen Elementary School in 
Lakeland. X-rays determined that only one piece definitely had metal — 
what appeared to be a staple — baked inside, Polk County Sheriff Grady 
Judd said.

On Wednesday, a woman in nearby Mulberry told authorities she found a 
lollipop with a piece of metal in it in a bag of the same product. The 
metal appeared to be part of a razor blade, authorities said.

The sheriff's office issued a safety advisory and the Dollar General chain 
removed the product from its more than 8,000 stores nationwide. The Food 
and Drug Administration is investigating.

Judd said the two tainted lollipops were purchased from different Dollar 
General stores near Lakeland. He said the lollipops did not appear to have 
been tampered with and it appeared the metal was baked into the candy in 
China, where it was produced.

"Our children were put at risk of physical injury because of this," Judd 
said.

No injuries were reported and it was unclear whether the metal was 
intentionally placed in the candy.

The sheriff's office said Sherwood Brands was cooperating. "They are as 
concerned as we are," Judd said.

Sherwood Brands did not return calls seeking comment Thursday but 
announced the recall in a statement. The company said it was recalling the 
cards and treats, which were sold in packages of 10 and 30.

"Sherwood Brands is advising its distribution network to remove the 
Pokemon branded Valentine cards and lollipops from the shelves 
immediately. The product was sold at retailers nationwide," the company 
said in the statement.

Dollar General, headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tenn., also pulled 
another Sherwood Brands product, Dog Artlist Collection Valentine Cards 
and Pops, from shelves. Tawn Earnest, a spokeswoman for the chain, said no 
other pieces of metal have been found in the manufacturer's products.

China's reputation as an exporter has taken a beating in the past year 
following the discovery of dangerous chemicals in products from toothpaste 
to toys. Last year it announced a series of measures to boost product 
supervision.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"People who ridicule others while hiding behind anonymous monikers in chat-
room forums are neither brave nor clever." 

- Latah County Sheriff Wayne Rausch (August 21,
2007)

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