SPANISH FORK — Provo Craft & Novelty Inc. on Thursday issued a voluntary recall of about 29,000 metal charms because they were found to contain high levels of lead.

The Spanish Fork-based wholesale manufacturer/distributor of scrapbooking and craft supplies worked in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall its Art Accentz Changlz line.

"When we learned last year that a competing product had demonstrated quantities of lead deemed unsafe for children, we quickly and unilaterally decided to institute a voluntary recall of our own Changlz product," said Jim Thornton, CEO of Provo Craft.

The recalled charms are small, silver-colored decorations for craft projects such as scrapbooking and jewelrymaking. The product was manufactured in China and sold at craft and scrapbook retails outlets from April 2004 through July 2005, and at Pamida Stores from January 2005 through April 2005.

No incidents or injuries involving the recalled charms have been reported, but the CPSC encourages consumers to take the products away from children and make sure that charms being used are not accessible to children. Products containing high levels of lead pose a serious risk of lead poisoning and adverse health effects to young children.

Consumers who purchased the recalled product can call Provo Craft between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 800-955-9490 for a full refund or visit recall.provocraft.com for more information.

In March 2005, Provo Craft contacted the CPSC seeking permission to recall its product and approval to post recall notices in stores selling the Changlz product. That request was approved this week.

Provo Craft soon will be placing signs in the 24 Utah stores selling its products, including 10 Roberts Crafts locations owned by the company.

The recalled product has undergone two series of tests since March 2005, one in Germany and one in the United States. The German testing company concluded that, from a health standpoint, Accentz Changlz was in compliance with public safety law. The U.S. tests determined that the product exceeded lead levels for safe mass disposal.

"Although we are quite confident that Accentz Changlz falls safely within regulatory guidelines for lead content in consumer products, we hold our company and our products to a higher standard," Thornton said. "We are fully committed to the safety of our customers, our employees and the environment."

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