Ty Refuses Lead Toy recall

Here's the latest from the Associated Press:

Ty Incorporated is refusing to pull a popular, but lead-tainted, doll from store shelves across the state. Illinois authorities thought they'd agreed with Ty to have the company voluntarily remove its Jammin' Jenna dolls from retail shelves because the toys contained high amounts of lead.

Westmont-based Ty is best known for its Beanie Babies. The company says it would no longer sell new versions of Jammin' Jenna to Illinois retailers. But the state says the company is refusing to recall dolls already in stores and some remain on store shelves.

Now the state is considering suing Ty to force the company to comply with state law. Representatives of Ty say it's not violating the law because federal rules have higher lead limits, and supersede the state provisions.

If you have one of these dolls and want more information, the Chicago Tribune has a lengthy article on the potential lawsuit.

Lead can be very dangerous to kids. Kids growing bodies absorb more lead and their brains and central nervous system are more sensitive to the effects. If your child ingests a large amount of lead, it can harm their brain function, change their behavior, slow their growth and cause learning problems. Lead poisoning has also been associated with hearing problems and headaches.

If you are worried your child may have lead poisoning, you can have a simple blood test performed at your pediatrician's office or the public health department.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen