Mattel recalls toys for second time in two weeks

Another big batch of recalls by the world’s largest toy company is once again prompting a host of concerns about the safety of toys being imported and sold in the U.S.

The head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) held a hastily-convened press conference to announce the recall of more than 9 million toys by Mattel Inc.—and to defend the recalls as proof that the nation’s safety laws were working. But almost simultaneously, a key member of Congress, Senate majority whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), called on toy manufacturers and retailers to voluntarily submit their Chinese-made products to third-party inspectors to guarantee their safety.

The latest recalls couldn’t come at a worse time for Mattel, which today launched an advertising campaign to assure the public that “nothing is more important than the safety of our children.” Just 12 days ago, Mattel's Fisher-Price division recalled nearly 1 million toys based on licensed characters such as Dora the Explorer and Elmo because they contained lead paint.

Today’s recall involves several different toys made by Mattel, including one--"Sarge" die-cast toy cars--because it may contain excessive levels of lead. The other recalls, including more than 7 million of the popular Polly Pocket play sets, are being issued because the toys contain small magnets that could come loose and be swallowed or aspirated, causing intestinal perforation or blockage, which sometimes can be fatal. It's been a serious problem with other toys, such as Magnetix, that we've warned about before--and will continue to warn about in the future.

Mattel and the CPSC are advising parents and caregivers to take the recalled toys away from children immediately; Mattel plans to issue vouchers for replacement toys.

Here are some specifics about today's recalls. For more details, visit www.cpsc.gov:

Magnet hazards:
7.3 million Polly Pocket play sets with magnets
The Polly Pocket play sets have proven to be problematic for Mattel. Last year the company recalled 2.4 million toys after getting three reports of children swallowing the magnets and suffering intestinal perforations that required surgery. Since then, Mattel has received more than 400 additional reports of magnets coming loose, although no additional injuries.
Sold between May 2003 and November 2006.

345,000 Batman and One Piece magnetic action figure sets 
Mattel has received 21 reports of magnets falling out of toys including a case where a 3-year-old had a magnet in his mouth but had not swallowed it.
Sold  from June 2006 to June 2007

1 million Doggie Day Care play sets 
Mattel has received two reports of magnets coming loose and no reports of injuries.
Sold  from July 2004 to August 2007

683,000 Barbie and Tanner play sets
Mattel has received three reports of magnets coming loose but no reported injuries.
Sold from May 2006 to August 2007

Lead paint hazard
253,000 "Sarge" die-cast cars 
Sold between May 2007 through August 2007

Mattel said the Sarge car recall grew out of the recent Fisher-Price recall as the company's increased investigation and ongoing testing procedures discovered that the painting subcontractor of the Chinese factory used paint from a non-authorized third party supplier. Mattel said it has implemented a new testing program that will require testing of every single batch of paint at every single vendor. “If it doesn’t pass, it doesn’t get used,” Mattel said in a press release. The company said it is also stepping up unannounced random inspections and will test every production run of finished toys to ensure compliance “before they reach our customers.”

CPSC’s acting chairman Nancy Nord said today’s recalls are proof that "the agency's system is effective in getting products out" of stores. However, Nord acknowledged, that's often the easiest part of a recall. "Getting products out of consumers' homes is the bigger challenge."

With each new recall, there has been growing congressional pressure—from Durbin and other senators and representatives—on the CPSC. That was certainly the case for the latest Mattel recalls, with Durbin issuing a press release saying "we can't wait any longer for China to crack down on its lax safety standards."

Nord, however, said today's recalls of more than 9 million toys need to be kept in perspective, noting they represent “only a tiny fraction of the hundreds of millions of toys sold in the U.S. every year."

Pressed by reporters about why the agency wasn't testing more toys before they were shipped and sold in the U.S., Nord said she has asked Congress for additional authority to test toys before they are sold to be confident they meet U.S. safety standards. Meanwhile, she added, the commission has been engaged in "ongoing and rather aggressive conversations" with the U.S. toy industry, to put in place a program to test toys before they are imported into the U.S.

Meanwhile, Nord cautioned concerned parents to get their children's blood tested if they are worried that they've been exposed to lead or call in a professional to test their home if they are worried about lead in their homes. "Home test kits are not a reliable way to determine the presence of lead in a home or a product," she said, adding that they may provide false or misleading information.

      

Comments

[Terry Nixon]

I was shopping in a Toy R Us store yesterday and noticed there were no Cars toys single packs on the shelves.

There were large $20 Cars character toys, and a multipack with all the main Cars characters.

A Toys R Us employee said that Toy R Us had decided to pull all the small Cars toys due to the Sarge recall.

Does any anyone know if there's a wider recall of other Cars character toys besides Sarge in the works?

[Vivian Swann]

These latest recalls of children items is really scary. Are we going to have to buy lead detectors to test everything our children wear and play with to insure their safety? U.S. companies are out-sourcing everything for cheap labor and hugh profits, putting our lives at risk. My house must be full of lead because even items purchased from up-scale department stores are marked "made in China." I am furious!

[Elizabeth Creasap]

I wrote Mattel recently asking them where there Aerican Girl doll is being made, guess what it's not an American Girl, as the parts for the doll are being made in China. Why are they calling it "American Girl"??? to get more sales from people that think it is being made here?? I was going to buy one for my granddaughter, but disided to ask questions first, Am I ever glad that I did. She will have an American Girl doll for Christmas only it will be made by me in America. I will not purchase any thing that has China on it, unfortuneatly I and other family members purchased toys that we thought were safe and now we find out there not. if I cant find any toys made in my country I will not purchase them, and if the American people are smart they will follow my lead. American & proud Of it!!!!