Local Retailers Suspend Sale of Elmo Card Games
Bags Containing Lead

BALTIMORE, MD (January 14, 2009) - Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler today announced that Big Lots Stores, Inc. and Dollar General Corporation have suspended the sale of the “Elmo’s Take-Along Card Games” bag following an investigation by the Office of the Attorney General that found the product contained excessive levels of lead paint. The retailers have also agreed to accept returns of the product.

After testing on the bags by the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Attorney General Gansler sent a letter to Big Lots and Dollar General requesting that the stores stop selling the game bags. Both companies immediately agreed to end the sale of the products in their Maryland stores.

“I am pleased that Big Lots and Dollar General have agreed to remove these potentially dangerous products from their store shelves,” said Attorney General Gansler. “I encourage any consumers who purchased these game bags to stop using them and to return them to the store where they were purchased.”

Big Lots and Dollar General have agreed to accept returns and provide refunds to consumers who purchased the game bags at their Maryland stores. The retailers have also agreed to place posters in their local stores informing consumers that the products were found to contain lead and they can be returned at Big Lots and Dollar General stores in Maryland.