May 12, 2005 - WASHINGTON, D.C. � The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Heart-Shaped Pendant

Units: About 80,000

Distributor/Retailer: Dollar General Corp., of Goodlettsville, Tenn.

Hazard: The recalled heart-shaped pendant contains high levels of lead, posing a serious risk of lead poisoning to young children. Lead poisoning in children is associated with behavioral problems, learning disabilities, hearing problems and growth retardation.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The heart-shaped pendant is silver-colored, ribbed on the front, hollow on the back, and hangs on a pink suede cord with a silver-colored clasp.

Sold at: Dollar General stores nationwide from May 2003 through April 2005 for about $1.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should take these necklaces away from children immediately and return them to Dollar General stores for a refund.

Consumer Contact: Contact Dollar General at (800) 678-9258 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit their Web site at www.dollargeneral.com

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.