Lead in Mardi Gras Beads?

Mardi Gras season is in full swing in New Orleans, Biloxi, Mobile and all other cities and small towns (around the country now) that celebrate this holiday.

With all the scares about lead in children's toys last year, we can't help but wonder about lead in Mardi Gras beads too. It's definitely something to think about considering that most beads are made in China and most kids put the beads in their mouths at some point during the Mardi Gras season. Even if the beads are not lead hazards, they can be choking hazards, so watch small children carefully or better yet, don't let them play with the beads at all.

Here's an excerpt from the article "Chinese-made Mardi Gras beads get a second look" that was recently published in The Times Picayune (the New Orleans newspaper): "The brightly colored beads and baubles showered on crowds during Carnival processions originate largely in Chinese factories. Retailers say they are now testing to see if the imported wares are safe." For more of the article including specific testing for some retailers, click here.