First the poison dog food. Then, the car tires. And now, lead paint on children's toys. Another major North American company has announced a huge recall of items at least partially outsourced to China, as being a risk to consumers. Mattel is recalling almost one million Nickelodeon and Sesame Street developmental toys made for toddlers and young children. The lead paint that Mattel's contract factory in China used to decorate Dora the Explorer, Elmo, and other toys can, when ingested, contribute to life-long defects in health and learning ability.
The New York Times report on August 2, 2007, delineates exactly how this past year has seen a growing number of recalls of products destined for American consumers, that were outsourced to manufacturers in China. Mattel's Fisher-Price division, the target of this newest recall, sells several popular toy lines for young children. It is developmentally normal for babies, toddlers, and young children to taste and mouth their toys; children could easily ingest the lead paint, which is accessible on the exterior of the children's toys. The NY Times quotes Nancy Nord, acting Consumer Product Safety Commission chairwoman, as saying, "These recalled toys have accessible lead in the paint, and parents should not hesitate in taking them away from children."
Scott Jagow, of NPR's Marketplace radio program, talked with Geoff Dyer, a financial news reporter in Shanghai. Dyer explained that currently, China is trying to reassure consumers and companies that products from China face increasing inspections [although this is still largely unregulated; who is doing the inspection?] to ensure safety.
Complete list of Mattel's toy recalls, with product numbers:
- 33662 Elmo Light Up Musical Pal
- 33664 Big Bird Light Up Musical Pal
- 39038 Elmo Tub Sub
- 87946 Elmo Keyboard
- 90609 Elmo Collectible
- 90612 Zoe Collectible
- 90614 Big Bird Collectible
- 93068 Elmo Boom Box
- 93307 Press N Go Elmo
- 93492 Cookie Saxophone
- 93615 Splash Tub Puzzle
- B7554 Count To Beat Elmo
- B7987 Elmo In The Giggle Box
- B9620 Dora's Talking House
- C6908 Dora, Backpack, Perrito Figure Pack
- C6909 Diego Figure Pack
- C6911 Boots, Tico Figure Pack
- G5112 Sing With Elmo's Greatest Hits
- H2943 Grow With Me Elmo Sprinkler
- H3344 Birthday Dora
- H5570 Elmo & Pals (Elmo, Zoe, Bigbird)
- H4628 Water Fun Tote
- H8237 Blue 3 Pack Figures In Tube
- H9124 Chef Dora
- H9186 Giggle Grabber Ernie
- J0338 Diego Talking Field Journal
- J0344 Go Diego Go Deep Sea Rescue
- J0346 Go Diego Go Talking Rescue 4 X 4
- J5936 Giggle Grabber Chef Cookie Monster
- J6537 Sesame Street Giggle Toolbelt
- J6763 Royal Boots And Tico
- J7983 Sesame Street Tub Pots & Pans
- J9692 Dora's Talking Pony Place
- K3414 Diego - Talking Gadget Belt
- K3580 Fairytale Adventure Dora
- K4140 Toucan Motorcycle Rescue
- L3194 Surprise Inside Diego Eggs
- L3488 Sesame Street Birthday Figure Pack
- L3507 Sesame Street - Super Boom Box
- L5202 Birthday Dora
- L8905 Pablo & Pals
- M0352 Dora Figures Diego & Bear
- M0527 Sesame Street Giggle Doodler
- M2051 Lets Go Rescue Center
- 33663 Ernie Light Up Musical Pal
- 34658 Elmo Stacking Rings
- 39054 Sesame Street Shape Sorter
- 90267 Ernie Splashin' Fun Trike
- 90611 Cookie Collectible
- 90613 Ernie Collectible
- 90745 Construction Playset
- 93107 Action Fire Engine
- 93308 Rev & Go Cookie Monster
- 93493 Elmo's Guitar
- 93780 Music And Lights Phone
- B7888 Shake, Giggle & Roll
- B7989 Silly Parts Talking Elmo
- C6910 Swiper Figure Pack
- G3825 Dora Talking Vamonos Van
- G9717 Giggle Doodler
- H3343 Cousin Daisy
- H5569 Elmo & Pals (Elmo, Cookie, Ernie)
- H4187 Dora Figures In Tube
- H8236 Dora 3 Pack Figures In Tube
- H8238 Sponge Bob 3 Pack Figures In Tube
- H9125 Bedtime Dora
- H9188 Giggle Grabber Oscar The Grouch
- J0343 Go Diego Go Antarctic Rescue
- J0345 Go Diego Go Mountain Rescue
- J5935 Giggle Grabber Soccer Elmo
- J6762 Queen Mami
- J6765 Prince Diego
- J9518 Sesame Street Giggle Drill
- K0617 Twins Nursery
- K3571 Go Diego Go Mobile Rescue Unit
- K4139 Go Diego Go Dinosaur Rescue
- L0305 Dora Figure
- L3215 Sesame Street Elmo Jack-In-The-Box
- L5813 Diego Tub Trike
- M0351 Dora Figures Dora & Kitty
- M0524 Go Diego Go Talking Gadget
- M0732 Dora's Talking House
- M2052 Fairytale Castle
Customer Contact: For more information, go to the Mattel website, call Fisher-Price toll-free at (800) 916-4498.
Mattel toy recall list source: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Children depend on caregivers to keep them safe and entertained. Any of these toys found in a playroom or nursery should immediately be removed and taken back to the store of purchase, to exchange for a safe toy. Lead paint in toys is a serious health issue, and Mattel is doing the right thing with this recall.
 |
 |
 |
