PlainRecalls

Mars Retail Group Recalls M&M'S-Branded Jewelry Due to Violation of Lead Standard

Reported: August 25, 2016 Initiated: August 25, 2016 #16251 About 52,400 units

Mars Retail Group, of Mount Arlington, N.J. issued this CPSC recall on August 25, 2016. Classified as Moderate severity. Approximately About 52,400 units are affected. The recall was issued because: The jewelry can contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health i…. This recall notice is sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Below you will find the complete product description, hazard information, remedy instructions, and related recalls from the same manufacturer or product category.

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #16251) was formally reported on August 25, 2016. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Mars Retail Group, of Mount Arlington, N.J. is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 52,400 units are affected.

The documented reason for this recall is: The jewelry can contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health issues. Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details. The remedy documented by the agency is: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled jewelry, place the items out of the reach of children, and contact M&M'S World or visit an M&M'S World store to return the jewelry for a full refu… — consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 6 were also issued by CPSC. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 10 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.

Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity1Class I (Critical)Class II (Moderate)Class III (Low)
Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity

Moderate

Units Affected

About 52,400

Related Recalls

6

6 from same agency

Product Description

This recall involves all M&M-branded jewelry, including some children's jewelry. Recalled items include earrings, rings, bracelets and necklaces sold between May 2015 and July 2016. Jewelry items included in the recall have the M&M'S logo "M" as a charm or other feature.

Reason for Recall

The jewelry can contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health issues.

Remedy

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled jewelry, place the items out of the reach of children, and contact M&M'S World or visit an M&M'S World store to return the jewelry for a full refund.

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the CPSC recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Severity class Moderate
Status Active
Recall number 16251
Date reported August 25, 2016
Date initiated August 25, 2016
Recalling firm Mars Retail Group, of Mount Arlington, N.J.
Units affected About 52,400
Distribution Not disclosed

Profile values are sourced directly from the official CPSC enforcement record. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Scale of Impact

About 52,400 units affected — limited or regional distribution scale.

Regional (<10K units)
Multi-state (10K – 100K units) ✓ This recall
Large-scale (100K – 1M units)
Massive (≥1M units)

Bracket cutoffs follow federal recall-disclosure conventions; bar widths scale linearly within each bracket. Source: PlainRecalls analysis of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission filings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
This recall involves all M&M-branded jewelry, including some children's jewelry. Recalled items include earrings, rings, bracelets and necklaces sold between May 2015 and July 2016. Jewelry items included in the recall have the M&M'S logo "M" as a charm or other feature.. Recalled by Mars Retail Group, of Mount Arlington, N.J.. Units affected: About 52,400.
Why was this product recalled?
The jewelry can contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health issues.
What should consumers do?
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled jewelry, place the items out of the reach of children, and contact M&M'S World or visit an M&M'S World store to return the jewelry for a full refund.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on August 25, 2016. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 16251.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (16251) against your product. Visit the official CPSC website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
How do I report an injury from a recalled product?
Report injuries to the issuing agency: CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem, or FDA via MedWatch. Document the product (photos, model/serial numbers, purchase receipts) and seek medical attention. Injury reports help agencies track hazard patterns and may strengthen enforcement actions.

Recall Context

Product recalls are issued when a manufacturer, distributor, or federal agency determines that a product poses a safety risk to consumers. This recall is classified as moderate severity, indicating the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences. Across PlainRecalls, we track 83,000+ recalls from FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA to help consumers stay informed and act quickly when safety issues arise.

Nearby Recalls in This Category

Other recalls in the same product category — useful for spotting patterns across the same defect class or manufacturer.

Compare this recall with Infant Walkers Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury or De… →

Data Sources

Data as of 2025. Source: FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS federal recall databases.

  • Source: FDA — Food and Drug Administration, openFDA Enforcement API (food, drug, and medical device recalls)
  • Source: CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls API (consumer product recalls and hazards)
  • Source: NHTSA — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls API (vehicle safety recalls)
  • Source: USDA FSIS — Food Safety and Inspection Service (meat, poultry, and egg product recalls)

Recall information is sourced from official federal agency databases. Always verify recall details with the issuing agency for the most current status. This information is for research and awareness purposes only.

All federal data sources used on this page

Source: Federal recall agencies (FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS) Aggregated multi-agency recall feeds · 2024 Recall data normalized across federal agency feeds; severity classifications follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS).