Mattel Recall 7.3 Million Playsets

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Mattel Recall 7.3 Million Playsets

 

 

Anyone with little ones will need to read this:

 

 

 

By NATASHA METZLER, Associated Press Writer 13 minutes ago

 

WASHINGTON - Toy-making giant Mattel Inc. issued recalls Tuesday for

about 9 million Chinese-made toys that contain magnets children can

swallow or which could have lead paint.

 

The recalls includes 7.3 million play sets, including Polly Pocket

dolls and Batman action figures, and 253,000 die cast cars that

contain lead paint. The action was announced on the company's Web site

and at a news conference here by the Consumer Product Safety

Commission.

 

Nancy A. Nord, acting CPSC chairman, said no injuries had been

reported with any of the products involved in the new recall. Several

injuries had been reported in an earlier Polly Pocket recall last

November.

 

" The scope of these recalls is intentionally large to prevent any

injuries from occurring, " she told the news conference.

 

It was the latest blow to the toy industry, which has had a string of

recalled products from China. With more than 80 percent of toys sold

worldwide made in China, toy sellers are nervous that shoppers will

shy away from their products.

 

The recall involving lead paint was Mattel's second in two weeks.

Earlier this month, consumers were warned about 1.5 million

Chinese-made toys that contain lead paint.

 

" There is no excuse for lead to be found in toys entering this

country, " Nord said. " It's totally unacceptable and it needs to stop. "

 

Toys recalled Tuesday include 253,000 " Sarge " cars, because the

surface paint could contain lead levels in excess of federal standard.

The 2 1/2-inch, 1-inch high car looks like a military jeep.

 

Also recalled were 345,000 Batman and " One Piece " action figures,

683,000 Barbie and Tanner play sets and 1 million Doggie Day Care play

sets.

 

In full-page ads Tuesday in The New York Times and other newspapers,

Mattel said it was " one of the most trusted names with parents " and

was " working extremely hard to address your concerns and continue

creating safe, entertaining toys for you and your children. "

 

Nord said the company has stopped selling the products, instructed

retailers to pull them from the shelves and made a production change.

Mattel is also offering replacement products.

 

The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which negotiated details of

Mattel's recalls, reported that since its recall of Polly Pockets play

sets in Nov. 11, three children had been injured by swallowing more

than one magnet. All three suffered intestinal perforations that

required surgery.

 

If more than one magnet is swallowed, they can attach to each other

and cause intestinal perforation, infection or blockage, which can be

fatal.

 

In March 2006, another toy company, Mega Brands Inc., recalled 3.8

million Magnetix magnetic building sets after one child died and four

others were seriously injured after swallowing tiny magnets in them.

 

Two weeks ago, Mattel's Fisher-Price division announced the worldwide

recall of 1.5 million Chinese-made preschool toys featuring characters

such as Dora the Explorer, Big Bird and Elmo. About 967,000 of those

toys were sold in the United States between May and August.

 

Mattel discovered the latest problem while they were investigating the

earlier recall, Nord said.

 

Mattel officials maintained that a European retailer discovered the

lead in some of the lead-covered Fisher-Price products in early July.

On July 6, the company halted operations at the factory in China that

produced the toys and launched an investigation.

 

Days after the Fisher-Price recall, Chinese officials temporarily

banned the toys' manufacturer, Lee Der Industrial Co., from exporting

products. A Lee Der co-owner, Cheung Shu-hung, committed suicide at a

warehouse over the weekend, apparently by hanging himself, a state-run

newspaper reported Monday.

 

Lee Der was under pressure in the global controversy over the safety

of Chinese-made products, and it is common for disgraced officials to

commit suicide in China.

 

After Mattel announced the recall of its Fisher-Price toys, it

launched a full-scale investigation into all of its factories in

China.

 

Before this month, Fisher-Price and parent company Mattel had never

recalled toys because of lead paint.

 

Consumers should call Mattel at 888-597-6597 for information about the

recalled toys with magnets, or 800-916-4997 for information about the

recalled cars.

 

___

 

Mattel: http://service.mattel.com/us/recall.asp

 

Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www.cpsc.gov/

 

 

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