Children’s Water Bottles Recalled for Possible Lead Exposure

For many San Diego residents, ensuring that our children stay properly hydrated during a day at the beach is a top priority. But are the water bottles our kids are using actually safe? According to a recent article in Fortune Magazine, the federal government has issued a recall for a number of water bottles designed for children and sold by the popular company L.L. Bean because of the lead content in these dangerous products. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported the product defect and indicated that five styles of L.L. Bean’s water bottles were not safe for children to continue using.

What else do you need to know about this recent product recall? What are signs of lead poisoning that can result from the type of dangerous product involved in the recall?

Learning More About the L.L. Bean Recall

The CPSC issued a recall for five different styles of L.L. Bean water bottles “amid concern of lead in the exterior base of the bottles,” according to the article. Which water bottles have been affected? Take note of the following color prints that were listed on the CPSC’s recall list:

• Dino Bones;
• Flower Power;
• Orange Grid camo;
• Purple Tie Dye Butterfly; and
• Robo Shark.

The bottles were manufactured in China, but they were sold at stores throughout the United States. While no injuries have been reported thus far, 6,700 of these defective water bottles have already been sold. As such, it is important for parents to be aware of the risks of lead exposure and to prevent their kids from continuing to use these bottles.

How is lead present in these bottles? The CPSC reported that there are “high levels of lead in the solder at the exterior base of the bottle.” L.L. Bean’s website provided additional information, explaining that the company conducted tests on the bottles and found a defect in the sealing process at the bottom of the product. Specifically, the website recall notice explained, “some of the water bottles provided to L.L. Bean were erroneously sealed on the bottom with a solder bead containing lead instead of the lead-free solder bead originally specified.” The notice went on to emphasize how using these bottles can expose children to lead. As such, it is extremely important to cease use of these products immediately and to return them to the company for a refund.

Identifying Products Affected by the Recall

If you believe you might have one of these bottles, locate the item identification number, which is printed on the bottom of the products. If you see any of the following letter and number combinations, stop using your bottle and return it to L.L. Bean:

• Identification number 297684;
• PO#844; and
• BB2D@-LLB-R45-0413.

According to a fact sheet from the Mayo Clinic, lead poisoning builds slowly in the body over time, and it ultimately can result in some of the following symptoms:

• Developmental delays;
• Learning difficulties;
• Irritable behavior;
• Loss of appetite and/or weight loss;
• Fatigue;
• Hearing difficulties; and
• Abdominal pain.

Contact a San Diego Product Defect Lawyer

If you or someone you love recently sustained injuries because of a defective product, you should discuss your options with a San Diego product liability lawyer as soon as possible. Contact the Walton Law Firm today.

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(image courtesy of LLBean.com)