- Shrek McDonald's Glasses Recall Due to Cadmium - Image by Kriss Szkurlatowski
Parent alert: There's toxic cadmium in the paint on those cute McDonald's Shrek glass tumblers — the four glasses featuring Shrek, Princess Fiona, Puss in Boots and Donkey — triggering a voluntary recall by the US Product Safety Commission. Although children won't get sick right away from the cadmium in the glasses, their long-term health could be affected if the paint rubs off on their hands, or if they lick, kiss or otherwise ingest some of the potentially toxic paint on McDonald's Shrek glasses.
Cadmium is used in the manufacture of paints, rechargable batteries, and plastics.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, "cadmium is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects."
It has been reported that seven million of the 16-ounce McDonald's Shrek glasses have been sold, with another 5 million either in retail stores or warehouses.
No Immediate Symptoms from McDonald's Shrek Glasses, But Long Term Health Risk
Parents won't see immediate illness or symptoms such as fever resulting from the daily uses of McDonald's Shrek glasses. But that doesn't mean that the glasses don't pose a risk. To the contrary, the McDonald's recall raises the profile of cadmium as a health risk.
People can ingest cadmium, or inhale dust that contains cadmium. The human body doesn't rid itself of the toxin easily, so it can accumulate. "Exposure to low doses of cadmium over a long time can build up to a toxic level," according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Serious Long Term Effects of Cadmium
According to the CDC , cadmium can create:
- kidney damage
- bone damage, and
- lung damage.
And, children may be "more susceptible than adults" to bone loss and decreased bone strength due to exposure to cadmium, based on animal studies, according to the CDC.
How Many Times a Day Do Children Use Shrek Glasses?
Because children often favor cartoon-decorated glasses, a given child could have three or more exposures to tiny amounts of cadmium every day, if they drink from one McDonald's Shrek glasses.
For instance, if a young child uses his or her favorite glass at breakfast, a midday snack, and dinner, that's at least three potential exposures. And, should some delicious apple juice or chocolate milk spill out of the glass, a child might well lick it off, and in the process, ingest some of the paint.
Each exposure adds another opportunity for the child to ingest a small amount of cadmium.
Playful eaters, who might for instance, kiss their favorite characters image, may ingest a tiny amount of the paint. So might children who put their fingers or fists in their mouth after touching the paint on the glasses.
And, of course, in the summer, children are more likely to be home—and thirsty.
Cadmium safety standards are under consideration at the CPSC. Meanwhile, parents are advised to take the McDonald's Shrek 16-oz. glasses away from their children, immediately.
