Ministry of Health recalls toxic children's lipsticks

The Ministry of Health has called for retailers to withdraw four brands of children's lipstick, which contain low levels of lead and barium.

The lipsticks are KK Lipstick, Coral Colours Cosmetics, Ludy and Midie Lipsticks.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs recently screened and tested children's toys, jewellery, paints and cosmetics and found the four brands contained small amounts of lead, barium, and barely detectable levels of antimony, arsenic, cadmium and chromium.

Health Ministry spokesperson John Holmes urged people who had bought the lipsticks to dispose of them or return them to the retailer and contact their doctor if they had any concerns.

Exposure to the metals at such low levels was unlikely to cause adverse health effects for most people but some people might react differently, he said.

He said the products had been found on the shelves of at least two discount stores and a community pharmacy but the ministry was yet to establish how widely the products had been distributed.

Dr Holmes said he was pleased the Ministry of Consumer Affairs had expanded its testing of toys to include cosmetics targeted at children.

Earlier today the Commerce Commission issued an urgent alert to consumers about the dangerously high levels of lead found in six children's toys.

"Because of the extreme results from this testing we are immediately alerting consumers who have bought these toys to their highly toxic content," commission enforcement manager Greg Allan said.

One of six toys tested, which were all sold at Auckland "bargain variety stores", contained 314 times the 90 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) allowable level of lead.

Mr Allan advised parents to dispose of the toys, which posed a significant health risk.

"These products, while not targeted specifically at small children, would pose a significant health risk to a small child if they were to chew or suck on the toys."

The six products tested by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs tested to having lead levels ranging from 105mg/kg to 28.28g/kg.

The products were all sold at Auckland "bargain variety stores" in Waiuku, Papakura and Botany Downs.

The toys which had the highest levels of lead were a "Combat Mission Gun" sold at the Coin Save, which had 28.28g/kg of lead -- 314 times the allowable level - and a "Super Motivity Truck" sold at the Bargain City in Papakura, which had 26.25g/kg.

The commission had began an urgent investigation and was working towards a recall of the products.

Parents or caregivers who were concerned their children had played with the toys could arrange for a blood test through their GP.

- NZPA