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Mattel Recalls More than 700,000 More Toys
Elizabeth M. Taurasi, Executive Editor -- Design News, September 5, 2007
Late yesterday, Mattel Inc. announced it was recalling more than 700,000 more toys made in China that have excessive amounts of lead paint.
According to the Associated Press, the recall covers 675,000 units of Barbie accessory toys manufactured between Sept. 30, 2006 and Aug. 20, 2007. The recall also involves 90,000 units of Geo Trax Locomotive Toys and 8,900 Big Big World 6-in-1 Bongo Band toys, both from the company’s Fisher Price brand.
This is the third major recall of Chinese-made toys containing lead by Mattel in a month.
On Aug. 14, the company recalled 18.6 million Chinese-made dolls, cars and action figures that had lead paint or small magnets children could swallow.
On Aug. 2, the company’s Fisher Price division recalled nearly 1 million preschool toys featuring Dora the Explorer, Big Bird and Elmo because of lead paint. According to the Associated Press, the toys were sold in the U.S. between May and August.
According to Mattel’s website, the company is stepping up its testing and oversight. Mattel is testing and retesting toys before they leave factories and it has strengthened its testing worldwide with a mandatory three-stage safety check of paint used in its toys: (1) all paint must be tested before it is used on toys with no exceptions, (2) the company has significantly increased testing and unannounced inspections at every stage of production and (3) the company is testing every production run of finished toys to ensure compliance before they reach the consumer.
A complete list of Mattel’s recalled products can be found on the company’s website.
