Fun Express Inc. is recalling about 340,000 bendable dog and cat toys because paint on the toys contains excessive levels of lead.

Bendable dog and cat toys

Fun Express Inc. is recalling about 340,000 bendable dog and cat toys. The paint on the bendable toys contains excessive levels of lead, which is banned under federal law.

The recalled toy is made of bendable plastic and is in the shape of a brown dog with black ears, paws and feet, a Dalmatian dog with pink paws, a white dog with orange spots, a brown dog with pink paws, a white cat with orange stripes, a brown cat with pink paws, a black cat with pink ears, and a white cat with brown spots. The toys are about 3.75 inches high. The toy's packaging is labeled as item 39/1461-K and 39/1461-KM.

This toy was a free giveaway by libraries nationwide as part of reading programs from January through August.

Consumers should discard the toys.

For more information, contact Fun Express Inc. at 1-800-723-6155 anytime, or visit the firm's Web site at www.funexpress.com.

Science kits

School Specialty Publishing is recalling about 43,000 "Ideal" and "Brighter Child" science kits. The battery case in the kits can overheat, posing a thermal burn hazard.

Models included are "All About Electricity," "All About Magnets," "The Science Search Lab: Electricity," and "The Science Search Lab: Light." The kits were sold in brightly colored 113\u20444-inch by 12-inch boxes with a plastic window and door flap on the front.

Educational stores and bookstores nationwide, and the schoolspecialty.com Web site sold the kits from July 2004 through May 2006 for between $16 and $24.

Consumers should return the science kits to the place of purchase or to School Specialty for a refund.

For more information, consumers can contact School Specialty toll-free at 1-800-253-5469 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.schoolspecialtypublishing.com.

Climbing harnesses

Black Diamond Equipment Ltd. is recalling about 18,000 speed buckle harnesses. The harness could be threaded incorrectly. If threaded incorrectly, the webbing will slip easily when loaded. Incorrectly threaded buckles can loosen, which could cause climbers to slip out of the harness and fall.

These speed buckle harnesses were sold under the following model names: Gym Speed, Focus Speed, Momentum Speed, Vario Speed and Wiz Kid. The names can be found on a tag sewn inside the waist belt of the harnesses. The harnesses are various colors and were sold individually. Only Black Diamond Equipment speed buckle harnesses with incorrectly threaded buckles are included in this recall.

Rock climbing and mountaineering specialty shops sold the harnesses from December through July for between $40 and $75.

Consumers should contact the firm for a free replacement harness.

For more information, call Black Diamond Equipment collect at 1-801-278-5533 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.blackdiamondequipment.com/.

Light dimming ballasts

Lutron Electronics Co. Inc. is recalling about 28,000 Tu-Wire dimming ballasts. These ballasts, if not properly grounded in accordance with the National Electrical Code, can present a risk of electric shock to persons who come in contact with the ballast or with a light fixture that incorporates the ballast, such as when a consumer changes a fluorescent lamp bulb.

The recalled ballast is used to dim compact fluorescent lighting fixtures. The ballasts are not visible once installed. The ballasts were included with light fixtures sold under numerous brand names. Consumers should not touch these fixtures, since they could pose a shock hazard. The fixtures with these ballasts have a 120 VAC application, and the fixture housing is for a 26W or 32W four-pin plug-in compact fluorescent lamp installed after July 1998. Most of the lights were sold for commercial use, though some were sold for consumer use.

Light fixture manufacturers, electrical distributors and electrical contractors sold the item from July 1998 through May 2006 for about $120.

Consumers should contact Lutron Electronics to arrange for free replacement of the recalled ballasts.

For more information, contact Lutron Electronics toll-free at 1-866- 793-4270 anytime, or visit the firm's Web site at www.lutron.com.