Ty Inc. Still Selling Jammin' Jenna, the Lead-Tainted Doll

Although they were found to have high levels of lead, TY's Jammin' Jenna doll is still available in stores and online.

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Last Fall, the Chicago Tribune tested several toys for levels of lead. They found that the red vinyl shoes on three Jammin' Jenna dolls manufactured by the Ty, Inc. company carried lead levels that exceeded Illinois state regulations. Soon after, the manufacturer, famed for its collectable Beanie Babies plush animals, told authorities it would stop distributing the doll in the state of Illinois.

Today it is learned via the Chicago Tribune that while Illinois authorities thought they had an agreement with Ty, Inc., the Jammin' Jenna doll was still being sold in toy stores around the state. Worse, when confronted with this fact by the state attorney general's office, Ty, Inc. refused to recall dolls already in stores.

Now Illinois regulators are considering their options, including legal action, to enforce their lead paint standards.

For readers of The Daily Green, two questions arise: if Jammin' Jenna dolls are unsafe in Illinois, are they also under scrutiny in other states? The answer is no. And if Ty, Inc., is resistant to recalling a toxic, lead-laced toy like Jammin' Jenna, what exactly is in those Beanie Babies?

Ty Inc. has removed all Jammin' Jenna dolls from the toy shelves in Illinois and replaced them with a redesigned version of the shoes that addresses any concern raised by the Illinois Attorney General. Ty took this action even though the Jammin' Jenna dolls met all federal safety standards and posed absolutely no risk of harm to children. The Jammin' Jenna doll meets all safety standards promulgated by the Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the doll, like all of Ty's products, was tested for compliance with federal regulations before it was introduced on the market. In November, Ty again tested the toys, and the tests reconfirmed that the toys were safe and met all federal safety requirements. Even though it was not required to do so, Ty immediately ceased manufacturing this item and changed the material of the shoes. Ty voluntarily stopped distributing and selling the toys in Illinois, even though Ty does not believe this product is governed by Illinois state law. Ty wishes to point out that it has always cooperated with the Illinois authorities on this matter. Consumers should rest assured that Ty has always been vigilant in ensuring that its toys are 100% safe for children.

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