Lead astray

Recalls of Chinese products have affected everything from our pets' food to our children's toys. Now, they're messing with the Scouts:

The Boy Scouts of America said Thursday that a painted, plastic badge commonly worn by some of its youngest scouts is being voluntarily recalled after a test revealed high levels of lead in the paint.

As many as 1.6 million of the badges, which are made in China, may be affected by the recall.

"We're doing everything we can," Boy Scouts spokesman Gregg Shields said.

The plastic totem badge is given to Cub Scouts, who are usually between the ages of 7 and 8. The badge has a yellow and blue border, includes a picture of a bear and wolf and reads "Progress Toward Ranks."

I don't mean to defend China -- its efforts to appear sane and rational for Olympic visitors are pathetic -- but are we going off the deep end over lead? Do we think these Scouts are going to chew on their badges? Or is there some kind of seconhand lead exposure that will make them start twitching and foaming at the mouth while they're on campouts?