Toy Recall. Toothpaste Recall. Pet Food Recall.
September 5, 2007
Tainted pet foods. Tainted toothpaste. Mattel Fisher Price and Barbie toys. Recalls. Recalls. Recalls.
The last few months have become a series of seemingly unending recalls of products from China due to unsafe and/or life-threatening ingredients.
In the latest recall, Mattel has issued a voluntary recall of eight Barbie brand pet and furniture playsets and three Fisher Price toys due to toy parts testing at levels of lead that do not meet acceptable safe health standards.
Last month, Mattel launched an ongoing investigation of its toys manufactured by vendors in China, and the latest discovery of unacceptable levels of lead in the recalled toys involves 530,000 affected toys in the U.S., and 318,000 affected toys outside of the U.S, according to Mattel.
In the recall announcement issued on September 4, 2007 Robert A. Eckert, chairman and chief executive officer, Mattel stated,
“In August we promised that we’d continue to focus on ensuring the safety and quality of our toys through extensive testing of finished products, thorough investigation of our vendors and the implementation of a strengthened three-point check system. As a result of our ongoing investigation we discovered additional affected products. Consequently, several subcontractors are no longer manufacturing Mattel toys. We apologize again to everyone affected and promise that we will continue to focus on ensuring the safety and quality of our toys.”
Concerned parents can find more information about Barbie brand and Fisher Price toys currently on the lead paint hazard recall list and a list of toys recalled during the magnet hazard recall on a page provided by Mattel.
This summer, a friend asked what books were on my summer reading list. I told her I did not have time to read any books, as I was too busy reading product labels for anything that said Product of China. I am not joking.
However, sadly, my personal vigilance in reading product labels and boycott of products made in China might be a practice lending itself to an illusionary sense of health and safety for my family. Many ingredients that go into a product are not labeled by place of origin.
I commend any company who is voluntarily putting their products through independent testing, and making the necessary recalls when needed.
