This Friday (June 4, 2010) McDonald's recalled 12 million Shrek glasses they have been selling exclusively in their restaurants from May to June of this year. The cartoon designs on the glasses contain traces of the toxic chemical cadmium.

The Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) released a statement about cadmium stating long-term exposure to this toxic substance can lead to “adverse health effects”.

The discovery of cadmium in the McDonald’s Shrek glasses came from an anonymous tip to the Office of Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D) from California warning about the contamination of these glasses. Her office immediately contacted the CPSC, and the glasses were sent for testing. Speier released the following statement:

Our children's health should not depend on the consciences of anonymous sources. Although McDonald's did the right thing by recalling these products, we need stronger testing standards to ensure that all children's products are proven safe before they hit the shelves…Cadmium is a toxic substance that is extremely dangerous to the developmental health of children.

If you have any of the McDonalds "Shrek Forever After 3D" collectable drinking glasses with the Shrek, Fiona, Puss n' Boots or Donkey character painted on them, you should immediately stop using the glass. For additional information on this recall, you may contact McDonald’s at (800) 244-6227 or visit their website www.mcdonalds.com/glasses.

Sources:

SF Gate, “McDonalds Shrek glass recall: thank Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA)”, June 4, 2010

The Christian Science Monitor, “Shrek glass recall: Toxic cadmium found on glasses”, June 4, 2010