Sidewalk chalk sold in Iowa and several other states this spring by Target contains high levels of lead. The company is recalling any remaining packages of the chalk labeled “Double Dipp’n Fun.” Ken Giles, a spokesman for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, says the chalk is triangular and each stick is multicolored. Giles says “The lead comes right off on your fingers with the chalk and kids tend to put their fingers in their mouth and by hand to mouth contact they can transfer some lead.” 26-thousand packages of the sidewalk chalk are being recalled. It was made in Hong Kong and sold between March and July. Giles says it’s unfortunate that most of the chalk was probably used this summer. He says “I think chances are we’re not going to get a huge number coming back, but since we found out there was lead in it and we could actually identify what it looked like and when it was sold, Target agreed to refund the money.” Officials at the Wisconsin Department of Health discovered the lead during routine testing.
