The Vermont Attorney General’s office has filed a consumer fraud lawsuit against a company for selling jewelry and other products with high amounts of lead.
Officials say 12 of 15 samples taken of jewelry sold by Ganz Incorporated had extremely high concentrations of lead.
While, there are no specific government limits on the amount of lead in jewelry, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has recommended caps to protect human health. The jewelry sold by Ganz contains concentrations of lead significantly higher than the recommendations.
The Attorney General’s office says the company is engaging in unfair and deceptive trade practices, because its products don’t disclose that they contain lead and they pose a risk of serious injury.
In a suit filed in Washington County Superior Court, the Attorney General asks for a ban on the sale of lead-containing products, disclosure of products sold in the past, refunds to consumers and retailers, and penalties of up to $10,000.