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Mattel Recalls 18 Million Toys Worldwide

By GILLIAN WONG,

Posted: 2007-08-15 06:33:39

SINGAPORE (Aug. 15) - U.S. toy-making giant Mattel Inc. said Wednesday it was recalling some models of Polly Pocket, Batman, Barbie and other Chinese-made toys from Asian markets as part of a major worldwide exercise to remove the toys from shelves because of lead paint and tiny magnets that could be swallowed.

Full Recall List:

Mattel Answer Center

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From BloggingStocks:

A PR Crisis for Mattel?

The global recall of more than 18 million toys, announced Tuesday, came nearly two weeks after Mattel, the U.S.'s largest toy-maker, recalled 1.5 million Fisher-Price infant toys worldwide - also made in China - because of possible lead-paint hazards for children.

Mattel's worldwide recall involved 436,000 die cast "Sarge" cars related to the character from the movie "Cars" because they contained lead paint. It also extended a November 2006 recall of toys containing magnets that can be swallowed by children; they included Polly Pocket dolls and Batman action figures. That recall now encompasses 18.2 million magnetic toys worldwide.

In Asia, Mattel said it has started issuing press releases to the media and notices to retailers on the recall. It said the recall in Asia makes up less than two percent of the worldwide recall.

"Mattel does not put a price tag on safety. While this recall will most certainly have some financial impact, the company is at the same time, focusing all their efforts on communicating with their customers and rectifying the situation," Mattel Southeast Asia Pt Ltd. said in an e-mailed response to questions.

Mattel said the "Sarge" cars were manufactured by Early Light, a Hong Kong-registered company that makes its toys in China. Early Light subcontracted the painting of the "Sarge" cars to another company.

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council, a semi-government body that markets Hong Kong businesses to the world, said it was concerned by the recall.

"We are quite surprised as Hong Kong toy manufacturers are renowned for our quality and safety. We understand that the industry is looking into its supply chain," said Lawrence Yau, a spokesman for the council.

Mattel Australia on Wednesday recalled the "Sarge" car as well as a further 30 magnetic toys that include Polly Pocket toys, a Batman figurine and a Barbie accessory.

The toys have been sold at major toy retailers and supermarkets throughout Australia. The numbers involved in the latest recall is not yet known.

Australia's trade regulator, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, urged retailers to do more to test imported merchandise as global manufacturing increasingly centers on China.

"The crucial thing is that the problem needs to be discovered and as a result, we're recommending quite stringently to our manufacturers ... and to retailers that they step up their quality assurance," ACCC Deputy Chair Louise Sylvan told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio Wednesday.

While Mattel could not immediately provide a figure for the number of toys affected in Southeast Asia, it said that four models were being recalled in Singapore - a series of Polly Pocket dolls, "Sarge" cars, a Batman toy and a Barbie accessory.

Mattel added that many of the products on the recall list are no longer available on retail shelves because they are several years old.

Toys "R" Us in Singapore said it has removed all affected products from its sales floor, but declined further comment.

Mattel said it was recalling three toy models in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, and one model each in Vietnam and Thailand.

Elsewhere in Asia, 2,000 "Sarge" cars and 30,000 other magnet toys were being recalled in Hong Kong, and one Batman product was being pulled off shelves in India, Mattel said in separate statements.

Sanjay Luthra, head of Mattel's India operations, said less than 2,000 pieces of the Batman toy sold since September 2006 would be affected by this announcement.

Tuesday's recalls were the latest blows to the U.S.'s toy industry, which relies on China for about 80 percent of toys sold domestically.

On Aug. 2, Mattel recalled about 1.5 million Chinese-made Fisher-Price toys - including characters such as Dora the Explorer, Big Bird and Elmo - that contain lead paint. In June, about 1.5 million Thomas & Friends wooden railway toys, imported from China and distributed by the RC2 Corp. were recalled because of lead paint.

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 Chinese state-run newspaper reported Monday.

Lead is toxic if ingested by young children. Under current U.S. regulations, children's products found to have more than .06 percent lead accessible to users are subject to a recall.

Associated Press Writers Sylvia Hui in Hong Kong, Rajesh Mahapatra in India and Rod McGuirk in Australia contributed to this report.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2007-08-14 07:04:30

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1551 comments

magyymae1 10:50:40 PM Aug 30 2007

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I think it is really odd that every single piece of clothing I buy says what country it is made in, but it is almost impossible to find out where food and personal hygeine products like mouthwash, toothpaste, etc., are actually made. All they say is where they are distributed. From now on I am only buying the expensive juice for my grandchildren; the juice from companies I know are American and I have told my children to do the same thing. We used to cruise the dollar stores for a lot of items, but not for anything that is not brand name anymore!

One problem is that we have gotten used to paying the prices for toys and products that reflect their being made in China. I don't know if we could afford toys made in the US. Have you been in one of those fancy boutiques where they sell the expensive, not knock-off, toys? Waaaaaaay costly!

larkdahl 10:49:00 PM Aug 30 2007

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ok, whatever. It is mean that they are selling toys that are bad! THEY NEED TO TEST THEIR TOYS BEFORE THEY SELL THEM!!

clovisto 10:45:25 PM Aug 30 2007

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ITS SATAN TRYING TO HURT ARE LITTLE ONES ITS HIS A WAY OF TRYING TO WIN OVER MAN KIND HERE IN THE USA , AND US AMERICANS ARE LETTING THIS EVIL IN AND TO GET AWAY WITH THIS KIND OF SORESNESS , AMERICANS SHOULD ALL FIGHT BACK. DONT LET THE ENEMY IN, DONT BE ON EVIL SIDE , WAKE-UP AMERICA WAKE-UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sealover542 10:45:00 PM Aug 30 2007

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What about the toys that kids get with their meals from all the fast food resturants (ex: McDonalds, Burger King etc...)? A lot of those toys are "Made In China". How safe are they? No one has said anything about a recall for these. Looks to me like the people responsible for inspecting these shipments from China made a whole lot of money looking the other way. Someone clearly was not doing their job. Just think, if no one had found out about all the dangers in these recalls, China could have wiped us out without firing a shot and we are paying them to do it!! Maybe now these companies will start having all their products made in U.S.A.

nhill4kids 10:23:33 PM Aug 30 2007

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Just for the record...China already hates us! There aren't too many countries who do like us. Was in South Korea a while back visiting my daughter who was stationed there. They hate Americans, but want to be American. It was just insane!

jpapabug 10:19:53 PM Aug 30 2007

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TO BAD FOR THE TOY COMPANY, THEY SHOULD PACK THEIR BAG AND HAUL THEIR ASS TO CHINA , MAYBE THEY WOULD GET A LEAD PAINTED CHOP STICK UP THEIR ASS , TEACH THEM THEY SHOULD HAVE STAYED HERE AND PAID AMERICANS TO MAKE THE TOYS , WE ARE THE ONES THAT MADE THE GIANT AND WE CAN BRING THEM DOWN IF WE UNITE

BUBBA WONG

jpapabug 10:19:47 PM Aug 30 2007

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baboutin123 10:14:30 PM Aug 30 2007

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Mattell should be as all employers that manufacture overseas, kicked out of the united states , and not be allowed to sell their substandard products in the USA at all...
they want to screw all of us americans out of our jobs our homes are lifestyles let them all live overseas, and see how they feel living among the slaves of foreign lands that make them millions and to jeperdize our childrens lives for money.
let them all rot on some foreign land...

time2cruz5 10:08:41 PM Aug 30 2007

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Why does'nt these company's have someone checking these items that they are bringing over here that they pay so little for. Oh, of course they would have to pass the expense on to us, the US citizen, as their CEO's, COO's, Company presidents, vice presidents, vice vice presidents, honorariums, etc. would not want to lose any money in their pockets. Another disgusting thing.

MAKE IN AMERICA, KEEP IN AMERICA, BUY IN AMERICA