Health Canada Recalls T-Shirts Over Excessive Lead In The Imprint

Health Canada has issued a recall for Youth Texas Orange t-shirts bearing the “John Deere” logo due to excessive lead levels in the imprint.

Testing confirmed that the screen print on the shirts, distributed by The Michael Walker Advertising Co., Ltd. (UPIC: MICH0001) in Stoney Creek, Ontario, contained lead in excess of the allowable limit. Lead is a toxic metal, and a range of serious health effects can result if ingested. Neither Health Canada nor the Michael Walker Advertising Company has reported incidents or illness resulting from the t-shirts.

“We discovered the issue during our own testing of the shirts,” says Karl Walker, company vice president. “The ink used in the imprint was not complaint with children’s products standards. At that point, we contacted Health Canada to begin the recall process.”

The recall applies to approximately 121 t-shirts. They were sold at John Deere dealers and at the company’s head office in Canada between May 2010 and April 2012. Manufactured in Mexico, they were printed by Roban Screenprint in Hamilton, Ontario.

Consumers should stop using the product and contact The Michael Walker Advertising Company for a full refund. The company can be reached toll free at 800-668-6693, by e-mail at karl@michaelwalkeradv.com or at the company’s website.