Toymaker Settles Lead Charges for $350,000

(CN) – Selling children’s toys containing lead will cost a San Francisco Bay Area company $350,000 in fines and penalties, prosecutors said.      Daiso California produces and sells toys and other products from its stores in San Jose, Daly City and Newark. But it failed to properly label products containing lead and phthalate compounds, according to a lawsuit filed by the district attorneys of Alameda and Santa Clara counties.     Phthalate compounds are used in products to make plastic more flexible or to add fragrance.     Daiso settled the charges that it violated Proposition 65, relating to products sold in 2008 and 2009.     Alameda County Judge C. Don Clay signed the agreement on Monday. The settlement money will go toward the Safe Water and Toxic Enforcement Fund and supporting local police in their enforcement of consumer-protection laws.