The final chapter of three successful Shrek movies, Shrek Forever After is anticipated to be a major blockbuster. In light of this, a massive marketing blitz has accompanied the film’s release. McDonald’s Corp of Oakbrook, Ill. distributed 12 million collectible Shrek drinking glasses made by ARC International of Millville, NJ. Today, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of those drinking glasses, because regulators found they contain cadmium.
The 16-ounce glasses come in four designs featuring Shrek, Puss n’ Boots, Fiona, and Donkey, and were slated to be sold for $2 each. The recall was the result of an anonymous tip to Rep. Jackie Speier, a democrat from California’s 12th district. The cadmium was in the paint used for the decorative characters. Speier’s office indicated that the McDonald’s recall was voluntary.
Cadmium can be found in the air via the burning of fossil fuels such as coal or oil and the incineration of municipal waste. Short-term effects of cadmium in humans mainly affect the lungs. Chronic inhalation or oral exposure to cadmium leads to kidney disease. Cadmium has also been demonstrated to cause fetal malformations and has been classified by the EPA as a Group B1, probable human carcinogen. Eating food or drinking water with very high cadmium levels severely irritates the stomach, leading to vomiting and diarrhea. —torrance stephens, ph.d.
