When purchasing any item with a cord at a discounter or big box store that carries China produced items, exercise caution. I had to replace an old blender I use to whirl up raw veggie dinner scraps that I mix with water and then pour on container plants.
My new purchase - from Wal-mart - had a cord with an outer coating of lead. A plug tag cautions the consumer to wash their hands after each contact with the cord. I immediately returned the item and learned that Wal-Mart consumers have been returning garden power tools, power cords, irons, lamps and extension cords for the same reason - lead coating on the cord. This info is not printed on the outside of the box and the warning tag on the cord is hidden on store display items. One must open any packaging and specifically notice the warning. As cords tend to stiffen over time how much of that lead is going to flake off? All boxed items were stamped: Produced in China and Distributed by Wal-Mart.
Lead exposure is unacceptable at any level.