www.mercurypolicy.org
The Wall Street Journal - HEALTH
Associated Press, July 13, 2004; Page D3
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- New York Gov. George Pataki signed into law yesterday a bill banning mercury-powered novelties and hopes it will persuade Kellogg Co. to remove cereal boxes containing Spider-Man promotional toys.
Holding a box of Frosted Flakes and a plastic "Spidey Signal" that had been inside, Gov. Pataki called the mercury in the toy's battery "a toxic chemical that can do enormous damage."
The law, which doesn't go into effect until next year, follows the lead of Connecticut and New Hampshire, which already had laws on the books banning mercury-powered toys.
Kellogg agreed July 2 to stop shipping the Spider-Man toys to those states and asked retailers to return boxes after Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal complained.
The Spider-Man toys are still being shipped to New York and no recalls have been made here, said a Kellogg spokeswoman, while the Battle Creek, Mich., cereal maker and the state talk.
The Kellogg spokeswoman said the toys "in no way compromise the safety nor the quality of the food."
Kellogg, in a promotion for the "Spider-Man 2" movie, has put the toys into boxes of Apple Jacks, Cocoa Rice Krispies, Corn Pops, Honey Smacks, Frosted Flakes, Marshmallow Froot Loops, Rice Krispies,
Rice Krispies Treats and Tony's Cinnamon Krunchers. The wristwatch-shaped toys project either a red spider, a web or the villian Dr. Octopus onto the wall.
The toy is in a plastic pouch to isolate it from the cereal in the box.