Nintendo recalls lapel pins

Product recalls are nothing new in the gaming industry, but typically the objects of concern have to do with the electronics themselves. Such is not the case with Nintendo's latest recall. The publisher said today that it is recalling all lapel pins sold or given away as promotional items at its Nintendo "Fun & Games" employee store in Redmond, Washington, and its Nintendo World Store in New York, New York, between 2004 and 2007.

According to Nintendo, the lapel pins are coated by paint that contains an unsafe level of lead, as determined by US government regulations. The pins, which measure approximately 1/2 inch to 2 inches per side, depict various Nintendo characters, and Nintendo said it will be replacing the items with uncontaminated versions free of charge. More information on the recall is available on Nintendo's Web site, and lapel pin owners can call Nintendo at (800) 431-0971 to arrange for replacement pins.

"Nintendo of America is working with the Consumer Product Safety Commission to voluntarily recall character lapel pins that were sold in the US at company stores and given away as promotional items to employees of retailers who sell Nintendo products between 2004 and 2007," the publisher said in a statement. "The pins contain amounts of lead that potentially could cause health problems if ingested or swallowed. NOA purchased the pins from Bluegrass Promotional Marketing (Charlotte, NC), which imported them via Pro Source Inc. (Troutdale, OR). By their nature, these lapel pins are not intended for children, but NOA is voluntarily informing consumers about this issue and encouraging them to return them to NOA. Nintendo of America apologizes for any inconvenience this causes lapel pin owners."

Lapel pins aren't the first items recalled by Nintendo in recent years. Following the Wii's launch in November 2006, the publisher said it would replace free of charge Wii Remote wrist straps following reports that the tethering device was snapping under extensive play. That same day, the publisher also said it would be recalling faulty Nintendo DS chargers sold in Japan, saying they were prone to overheating.