Metal-Filled Lollipops Seized By Deputies At Elementary School
Candy Made In China, Sheriff Says
POSTED: Thursday, February 14, 2008
UPDATED: 9:32 am EST February 15,
2008
POLK COUNTY, Fla. -- The importer of a Valentine's Day lollipop announced it was recalling some 400,000 of the treats after metal fragments were found in lollipops sold at separate stores in Central Florida.
IMAGES: Larger blade image
The Polk County Sheriff's Office seized the Pokemon brand lollipops filled with metal shavings meant for an elementary school Valentine's Day party less than a day after a woman found a blade in her child's candy. Deputies confiscated the lollipops from Kathleen Elementary School Thursday. The candy was supposed to be handed out for Valentine's Day at the school, Local 6 has learned. The candy was purchased from a Dollar General Store in Polk County, the sheriff's office said. No injuries have been reported and it was unclear whether the metal was intentionally placed in the candy. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the lollipops did not appear to be tampered with and it appeared the metal was baked into the candy in China. Wednesday, Polk deputies began investigating after Lisa Potter of Mulberry told authorities Wednesday night that she found a piece of metal protruding from a bag of candy and Valentine's cards she bought for her son. The woman said she found the blade in a Pokemon lollipop she purchased at a Dollar General Store in Lakeland. "Once again, is this product tampering or is it a mistake made at the factory?" Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd asked. "We do know this: it was made in China, and the quality control was not there." The Polk County Sheriff's Office issued a safety advisory Wednesday night about the candy, and school officials checked candy during classes Thursday. Dollar General, which sold the product in bags of 10, removed it from the shelves of more than 8,000 stores nationwide. "Sherwood Brands is advising its distribution network to remove the Pokemon branded Valentine cards and lollipops from the shelves immediately. The product was sold at retailers nationwide," the company said in the statement. Dollar General, headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tenn., also pulled another product imported by Sherwood Brands, Dog Artlist Collection Valentine Cards and Pops, from shelves. Sherwood Brands did not announce a recall of those cards. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to launch its own investigation. Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Copyright 2008 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
IMAGES: Larger blade image The Polk County Sheriff's Office seized the Pokemon brand lollipops filled with metal shavings meant for an elementary school Valentine's Day party less than a day after a woman found a blade in her child's candy. Deputies confiscated the lollipops from Kathleen Elementary School Thursday. The candy was supposed to be handed out for Valentine's Day at the school, Local 6 has learned. The candy was purchased from a Dollar General Store in Polk County, the sheriff's office said. No injuries have been reported and it was unclear whether the metal was intentionally placed in the candy. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the lollipops did not appear to be tampered with and it appeared the metal was baked into the candy in China. Wednesday, Polk deputies began investigating after Lisa Potter of Mulberry told authorities Wednesday night that she found a piece of metal protruding from a bag of candy and Valentine's cards she bought for her son. The woman said she found the blade in a Pokemon lollipop she purchased at a Dollar General Store in Lakeland. "Once again, is this product tampering or is it a mistake made at the factory?" Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd asked. "We do know this: it was made in China, and the quality control was not there." The Polk County Sheriff's Office issued a safety advisory Wednesday night about the candy, and school officials checked candy during classes Thursday. Dollar General, which sold the product in bags of 10, removed it from the shelves of more than 8,000 stores nationwide. "Sherwood Brands is advising its distribution network to remove the Pokemon branded Valentine cards and lollipops from the shelves immediately. The product was sold at retailers nationwide," the company said in the statement. Dollar General, headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tenn., also pulled another product imported by Sherwood Brands, Dog Artlist Collection Valentine Cards and Pops, from shelves. Sherwood Brands did not announce a recall of those cards. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to launch its own investigation. Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Previous Story:
- February 14, 2008: Mom: Razor Blade Found In Valentine's Candy
Copyright 2008 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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