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# Metal found in recalled Shrek drinking glasses promotes breast cancer
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/cadmium_drinking_glasses_breast_cancer_0506100703/
- Published: 2010-06-05T19:54:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:48:18.000Z
- Description: The CPSC announced McDonald's recall of millions of Shrek Forever After drinking glasses after cadmium turned up in the painted designs. McDonald's calls the glasses non-toxic and the recall precautionary; a Molecular Endocrinology study has proposed how cadmium raises breast cancer risk.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Food Chemicals, Cadmium, #vivvo-import

McDonald's recalls Shrek glasses

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a press release on June 4 to alert consumers to a recall by McDonald's Corp for millions of movie themed drinking glasses due to potential cadmium risk.

The products subject to the recall are “Shrek Forever After 3D” Collectable Drinking Glasses. The Reuters reported that McDonald's has recalled 13.4 millions of tainted glasses, but the company says on its website that instructions on how to get a refund will not be released until June 6.

Cadmium, a cancer-causing agent, was found in the painted design of four Shrek chacracters on the surface of the drinking glasses made in the U.S. by ARC International of Millville New Jersey.

The “Shrek Forever After 3D” collectable drinking glassware include a set of 16 ounce glasses that came in four designs, Shrek, Fiona, Puss n’ Boots, and Donkey.

McDonald's repeatedly says on the FAQ page that the CPSC has said that the drinking glasses are not toxic and the recall serves as a precautionary measure only. The glasses were sold as part of a promotional campaign from McDonald's restaurants nationwide from May 2010 into June 2010 for about $2 each.

McDonald's says it has had the products tested and found no safety issue. Cadmium was detected by a third party laboratory accredited by the CPSC, which was notified by the Office of Congresswoman Jackie Speier from California, who was tipped by an unidentified source last week.

How toxic is cadmium? No one knows. But one thing for sure is that cadmium is a cancer causing agent. For example, it has been associated with increased risk of breast cancer.

A study published in Molecular Endocrinology has recently explained how cadmium increases risk of breast cancer.

Siewit C.L. and colleagues from the Dominican University of California, San Rafael, California found some evidence that cadmium promotes the growth of breast cancer.

The authors of the study reported that cadmium induces cell growth and modulates gene expression by stimulating estrogen receptor alpha activity among other things.

Jimmy Downs