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The Halloween 2009 Thread
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Toxic Face Paint Makes for Scary Halloween
SAN FRANCISCO, California, October 28, 2009 (ENS) - Some children's face paints contain lead, a neurotoxin that can harm the brain at low doses, according to new product tests documented in a report from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a national coalition of nonprofit health and environmental groups.
In some of the paints tested, the lab identified the heavy metals nickel, cobalt and chromium, which are skin allergens, even in products labeled "non-toxic" and "hypoallergenic."
Because these metals are not listed on product labels, parents shopping for Halloween makeup have no way of knowing which products are safe. The only way to know if a cosmetic product contains lead or other heavy metals is to test the product at a laboratory, which the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics did for this report at a cost of $270.00 per sample.
"Parents should not have to worry that face paint contains lead and other hazardous substances," said Lisa Archer, national coordinator of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at the Breast Cancer Fund and a co-author of the report, "Pretty Scary."
"Companies are not making the safest products possible for children, even though kids are particularly vulnerable to toxic exposures," Archer said.
"Parents are stunned when they learn that these products made for kids have lead and other toxics in them. We don't understand how our government is so lax, nor why the manufacturers are so negligent," said Joan Blades, co-founder of Moms Rising, a coalition member and national advocacy organization focused on family health and economic security.
Downloadable report 'Pretty Scary':
http://www.safecosmetics.org/downloads/ ... ct2709.pdf
In some of the paints tested, the lab identified the heavy metals nickel, cobalt and chromium, which are skin allergens, even in products labeled "non-toxic" and "hypoallergenic."
Because these metals are not listed on product labels, parents shopping for Halloween makeup have no way of knowing which products are safe. The only way to know if a cosmetic product contains lead or other heavy metals is to test the product at a laboratory, which the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics did for this report at a cost of $270.00 per sample.
"Parents should not have to worry that face paint contains lead and other hazardous substances," said Lisa Archer, national coordinator of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at the Breast Cancer Fund and a co-author of the report, "Pretty Scary."
"Companies are not making the safest products possible for children, even though kids are particularly vulnerable to toxic exposures," Archer said.
"Parents are stunned when they learn that these products made for kids have lead and other toxics in them. We don't understand how our government is so lax, nor why the manufacturers are so negligent," said Joan Blades, co-founder of Moms Rising, a coalition member and national advocacy organization focused on family health and economic security.
Downloadable report 'Pretty Scary':
http://www.safecosmetics.org/downloads/ ... ct2709.pdf
CT removes Walgreens witch costumes
Updated: Friday, 23 Oct 2009, 9:10 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 23 Oct 2009, 9:10 PM EDT
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Connecticut's consumer protection commissioner has ordered a recall of some witch costumes sold at Walgreens stores because they contain twice as much lead as allowed by law.
Commissioner Jerry Farrell Jr. said Friday that officials have removed all 51 "Punky Witch" Halloween costumes they found at Walgreens stores across the state.
He's also urging people who bought the costumes to return them for an exchange or refund.
Farrell says the costumes' metal rivets violate the lead limit of 300 parts per million, and he's notified the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Walgreens has nearly 7,000 drug stores across the country.
Walgreens officials didn't immediately return a message seeking comment Friday.
http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/connecticu ... 0091023201
Updated: Friday, 23 Oct 2009, 9:10 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 23 Oct 2009, 9:10 PM EDT
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Connecticut's consumer protection commissioner has ordered a recall of some witch costumes sold at Walgreens stores because they contain twice as much lead as allowed by law.
Commissioner Jerry Farrell Jr. said Friday that officials have removed all 51 "Punky Witch" Halloween costumes they found at Walgreens stores across the state.
He's also urging people who bought the costumes to return them for an exchange or refund.
Farrell says the costumes' metal rivets violate the lead limit of 300 parts per million, and he's notified the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Walgreens has nearly 7,000 drug stores across the country.
Walgreens officials didn't immediately return a message seeking comment Friday.
http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/connecticu ... 0091023201
A silent mouth is sweet to hear. Irish saying
No trick: 2,000 kids knocking on White House door
Posted 10/31/2009 3:24 PM
by Susan Walsh, AP
WASHINGTON — It's the ultimate trick-or-treating treasure, that one house on the block that offers the coolest candy and surprises galore.
This year it's the big gated place on Pennsylvania Avenue, No. 1600. Welcome to the White House, boys and girls.
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama awaited more than 2,000 children Saturday night from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. The Obamas themselves were to spend time handing out goodies to the trick-or-treaters on the most famous front porch in America, the North Portico.
What do you get for Halloween at the White House?
Not bad, kids: A box of White House M&Ms with the president's signature imprinted on it, a sweet dough butter cookie made by White House pastry chef Bill Yosses, a National Park Foundation Ranger activity book, and a serving of dried fruit mix made up of cherries, apricots, pears, apples and papayas.
By early afternoon, a big, stuffed, black spider was dangling in a web of string from the top of the portico, and pumpkins had sprouted up around the columns. The White House will be lit orange for the occassion, and three giants pumpkins -- about 1,000 pounds each -- will be on the grounds.
The loot is just part of the treat for the kids, ages 6 to 14. The White House said that set to roam the North Lawn were fairies, bubble makers, wandering trees, Star Wars characters, theater actors and artists and a "skeleton band."
The president and the first lady weren't planning to wear costumes. But don't rule out the chance that some youngsters might dress up as the Obamas.
Later, in the East Room, the first couple were to be joined by Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, at a Halloween reception for military families and for the moms and dads who work at the White House, along with their kids. The visiting children were chosen, with help from the Education Department, from schools in the capital and surrounding suburbs.
It's the first White House Halloween for the Obamas' daughters, 8-year-old Sasha and 11-year-old Malia.
Over the years, the winter holidays have been the ones to get the full treatment at the White House, with Christmas trees and tinsel all around.
The Obamas are not the first, though, to show Halloween spirit.
President George H.W. Bush and first lady Barbara Bush hosted 500 children on Halloween in 1989, loading them up with fun loot but also teaching them about the dangers of drugs. The kids came decked out in costumes; some Secret Service agents came dressed as clowns.
In the Clintons' first year in the White House, the Great Pumpkin returned. A huge orange jack-o'-lantern formed around the front entrance to the White House, with the front door to the mansion serving as the middle tooth. The first couple's daughter, Chelsea, was 13 at the time and the house was stuffed with pumpkins.
During the Nixon administration, first daughter Tricia hosted parties for underprivileged children, according to the White House Historical Association. And plenty of other first families got festive for Halloween.
No telling what kind of goblins might pop up this year, although stories of ghosts -- especially Abraham Lincoln's -- are woven into White House history.
Posted 10/31/2009 3:24 PM
by Susan Walsh, AP
WASHINGTON — It's the ultimate trick-or-treating treasure, that one house on the block that offers the coolest candy and surprises galore.
This year it's the big gated place on Pennsylvania Avenue, No. 1600. Welcome to the White House, boys and girls.
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama awaited more than 2,000 children Saturday night from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. The Obamas themselves were to spend time handing out goodies to the trick-or-treaters on the most famous front porch in America, the North Portico.
What do you get for Halloween at the White House?
Not bad, kids: A box of White House M&Ms with the president's signature imprinted on it, a sweet dough butter cookie made by White House pastry chef Bill Yosses, a National Park Foundation Ranger activity book, and a serving of dried fruit mix made up of cherries, apricots, pears, apples and papayas.
By early afternoon, a big, stuffed, black spider was dangling in a web of string from the top of the portico, and pumpkins had sprouted up around the columns. The White House will be lit orange for the occassion, and three giants pumpkins -- about 1,000 pounds each -- will be on the grounds.
The loot is just part of the treat for the kids, ages 6 to 14. The White House said that set to roam the North Lawn were fairies, bubble makers, wandering trees, Star Wars characters, theater actors and artists and a "skeleton band."
The president and the first lady weren't planning to wear costumes. But don't rule out the chance that some youngsters might dress up as the Obamas.
Later, in the East Room, the first couple were to be joined by Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, at a Halloween reception for military families and for the moms and dads who work at the White House, along with their kids. The visiting children were chosen, with help from the Education Department, from schools in the capital and surrounding suburbs.
It's the first White House Halloween for the Obamas' daughters, 8-year-old Sasha and 11-year-old Malia.
Over the years, the winter holidays have been the ones to get the full treatment at the White House, with Christmas trees and tinsel all around.
The Obamas are not the first, though, to show Halloween spirit.
President George H.W. Bush and first lady Barbara Bush hosted 500 children on Halloween in 1989, loading them up with fun loot but also teaching them about the dangers of drugs. The kids came decked out in costumes; some Secret Service agents came dressed as clowns.
In the Clintons' first year in the White House, the Great Pumpkin returned. A huge orange jack-o'-lantern formed around the front entrance to the White House, with the front door to the mansion serving as the middle tooth. The first couple's daughter, Chelsea, was 13 at the time and the house was stuffed with pumpkins.
During the Nixon administration, first daughter Tricia hosted parties for underprivileged children, according to the White House Historical Association. And plenty of other first families got festive for Halloween.
No telling what kind of goblins might pop up this year, although stories of ghosts -- especially Abraham Lincoln's -- are woven into White House history.
A silent mouth is sweet to hear. Irish saying