Ardene implements new policies after toxic metal found in jewellery

MONTREAL, QC — Jewellery and clothing store Ardene is changing how they evaluate jewellery before selling it in stores after a CBC investigative report found that some of the costume jewellery contained high levels of toxic metal.

The investigation found some pieces of jewellery contained 99.6 percent cadmium. While there is no danger in wearing jewellery with cadmium, even small amounts of the metal if ingested, sucked or chewed on can be harmful, especially to children.

In response to the investigation the Government of Canada is looking to amend the Children’s Jewellery Regulations under the Canada consumer Product Safety Act. The proposal recommends adding a 130 milligram per kilogram limit of camium in children’s jewellery that is small enough to be swallowed.

Ardene has since removed the jewellery that was identified as having high levels of cadmium and released a statement saying they are changing the way they evaluate jewellery being sold in stores.