Mattel announced today that is is recalling another 9 million Chinese-made toys. 7.3 million of toys being recalled include popular toys such as Barbie and Polly Pocket due to magnets that could become detached and swallowed by children.
Mattel officials stated that the problems with the magnets were the result of a design flaw, not faulty manufacturing.
These same dolls were the subject of another recall last year when the CPSC issued a recall of 2.4 million Polly Pocket play sets after it was reported that three children were inured after swallowing the magnets. The CPSC stated that it has been warning for almost a year that if one or more of these magnets were swallowed, they could attract to each other inside the body causing intestial perforation, infections or blockages.
This latest recall also includes 253,000 Sarge toys due to excessive lead in the paint.
This is the second major recall announced by Mattel this month. Just last week, Mattel announced the recall of 1.5 million toys due to excessive lead in the paint. All of the toys included in both recalls were made in China.
This recent recall adds to recent concerns about the saftey of products being imported from China such as seafood, tires and toothpaste.
For a complete list of the toys included in this recall you may go to www.servicemattel.com
You may also call Mattel at 1-888-597-6597 if you have any concerns.
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Comments: 161
Adele ....I doubt that would work. They are making a killing from the cheap Chinese labor..literally!
Elsie..exactly.
Robiyah..I'm all for it, however what other choice do we have. Have any of you gone out shopping for an American made toaster lately? If you actually find one, please let me know.
Rex..I'm glad that you brought up the subject of Asian slaves.
Spartan..exactly.
Adele..I admire your zeal !
Spartan is right, anything made elsewhere could, can and has been made right here and should be again. I don't care how many people would lose their jobs any where else. The jobs were here and lost to them in the first place. GET THOSE COMPANIES TO MOVE BACK TO THE US. Support MADE IN THE USA.
Can you say, "Cardboard in your biscuits?" ;)
I'm still on a roll here and fuming.
How many more recalls are there going to be before we start boycotting these companies? Demanding they set higher standards and stick to those standards. Leadbased paint shouldn't even be made any more.
The guy hung himself before he was hung or beheaded by his peers. Another person will move up in his place and take over where he left off. Had he not been found out he'd still be painting our toys with poison laughing all the way to the bank. Believe me, his workers aren't getting near the money he was.
If someone could find out how many of the toys were recalled 'back in the day' when they were made here I wonder if that percentage would be comparible?
From here on out, I will not eat another wonderful crab rangoon fresh from the grease dripping with ooey gooey goodness, nor Szechuan Chicken extra extra extra extra extra extra extra spicy with no vegetables.
___Robiyah G____ (sign here)
Lynn..Of course you knew that I would do this!
I think we as parents should organize protests at the large toy stores and demand they carry only toys made in america. If the manufactuer gets crap from the retail outlet and we the retail end user refuse to purchase, it would put an end to this crap. I feel a project coming on. We could stand outside the toys stores crrying our signs, and handing out flyers to potential customers. It could be done, if we as parents and grand parents don't stand up for our children who will. It is obvious the companies only care about the botom line.
Spartan..well said.
1. Corporate Greed
2. The willfullness Americans demonstrate in buying the cheapest products.
3. Walmart
You and your ' Pro Chinese Import ' compadres in no way can blame this on the American consumers. As I stated above, there isn't much of a choice except to purchase Chinese made products.
Given one day, I could find you each item you mentioned with a made in america tag with the possible exception of specific name brands. But each one will be more expensive than its foreign made cousin. There are choices for the American Consumer and all them regular Walmart shoppers (of which I am not one) have made theirs.
Robert: the American made stuff doesn't really have to be more expensive. All that has to happen is that the companies who sell these things have to decide to go with smaller than obscene profits and stop paying executives millions in compensation. I'm not saying don't be profitable, but just leave the "obscene" part off. Mattel, for instance, has lost a lot more than stock share price in this.
American parents have to stop being so knee-jerk when it comes to toys and grow a spine where children's demands are concerned. It would take a bit over a year (maybe two) for American manufacturers to decide to bring their lines back onshore if we just stopped buying the stuff. I can't see that happening.
The lead based paint recalls (about 200,000 this time) were a manufacturing problem however.
We should seperate concerns over importing from demonizing China. We have just as many problems with manufacturing and fraud and greed here in the US.
Glad my kids are too old for toys, but most of their's were Legos and wooden blocks. Anyway, who would buy a Barbie now? I was in Toys 'R Us the other day for the first time in many years and walked through the Barbie section on the way out. All the Barbie's are BIG HEADS now! Just like those stupid Bratz girls. As if Barbie wasn't disproportional enough the way she was. : - )
After thinking about her comment today, it turns out that it makes alot of sense. Do we really need toasters? Do we really need microwaves? These items are luxeries, not needs.
http://www.maglite.com/mag/history.asp
Nobody cares for John Q. Public.
Except to pick our pockets for crap.
Why not Porter Cable, Milwaukee, Makita, even DeWalt and Rotozip are options to some hand tools.
Lynn..where did you find the American made flasglight? What brand is it ?
Good stuff.
The lead based paint recalls (about 200,000 this time) were a manufacturing problem however.
We should seperate concerns over importing from demonizing China. We have just as many problems with manufacturing and fraud and greed here in the US."
But Ken, can't you see that ignoring the facts and demonizing China is so much more fun? Oh, and no doubt more productive as well.
UNFORTUNATELY the only toaster that was made in the US (Toastmaster) no longer manufactures their toasters here. The website is searching for US made toasters and appliances. BTW if you want an AMERICAN MADE MICROWAVE-SHARP IS THE ONLY ONE.
Let me go get that other website and I'll be right back with that info, too.
They have a search list. You go by what you are looking for. That will give a list of the items you can purchase that are made here. It also refers you to the BuyAmerican site.
P.S. Don men aren't the only ones that feel that way about Porter Cable. ;) I have my own. Nothing like a woman that knows how to use a drill. Hee-Hee!
In my opinion, we as U.S. citizens should have an equal choice between U.S. made products and imports available on the shelves of all retail stores. As it stands right now, we don't and it's not our fault as consumers.
Not only has there been recent problems with Chinese imports, there has also been a heck of alot of manufacturing jobs lost in our country as a result of the trade imbalance with China. Also, the economies of many communities throught our country has been devestated as a result. If you don't believe me, send me a personal e-mail and I'll arrange a tour. I'll show you the empty buildings that once housed thriving factories as well as the empty buildings that once housed thriving buisnesses that failed after the fatories closed. I'll also show you houses that were abandoned and foreclosed when the former owners left town to seek empolyment elsewhere after the factories where they once worked closed and moved their operations to China.
The company is ' Whittle Shortline Railroad ' . They make toys in Louisianna right here in the U.S.A.
Their website also provides an extensive list of stores that sell their American-made toys.
Did anyone notice an article in the news about Michelin building a new factory in Mexico for 740 million? Guess what? Michelin just left my car. Although I know buying American is harder and harder, I make every effort......
BTW, we fly Old Glory proudly not only because we're proud American's but because it was MADE IN THE USA.
Tim I couldn't agree with you more. I think we AS AMERICANS should have a choice on the shelves. There will always be the shoppers that don't care. I care!! Keep those jobs here. Maybe if enough people gang up on these companies they'll change their tune a little.
Linda, you go girl.
Considering the recent problems with Chinese imports and the media attention, who knows..after these companies who've closed their plants and moved to China will bring the manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. after they take a huge hit to their wallets.
Darcey D.
Darcey. D.
Sorry Darcey, but in this case you're wrong. The DVD player was manufactured in China, but it was sold here in Australia by an Australian company. If you choose not to buy from Australian companies because some of their products are manufactured overseas, that's your prerogative. But I'm happy with my purchase.
I like to buy my prawns fresh at the seafood market, thanks. If I'm unfortunate enough to get seafood that's contaminated with heavy metals, e coli, or biotoxins from algae, can I blame that on the Chinese, too?
And I don't want toys that are dangerous for my kids, regardless of where they're made. As Ken F. pointed out in an earlier comment, the 7.3 million toys being recalled because of the magnets was a design flaw. It wouldn't have mattered where they were manufactured.
You go ahead and deny that there is a problem with Chinese imports all you want. Most of us know better.
Wil, How would you know if the shrimp were contaminated, you'll be dead, or one of your loved ones would be.
Bob..LOL !
Wil.....Can you explain how buying a DVD player in Australia that was manufactured in China is benefiting the United States, South Africa, New Zealand and Singapore?
I'm not denying there aren't problems with some Chinese imports. I'm also not denying that there aren't problems with all sorts of products, regardless of the country they're manufactured in.
I tend to focus more on the problems with the products themselves, rather than foaming at the mouth about what country they were made in. At the end of the day, what difference does it make? If a toy kills my kid, why would I care whether it says "Made in China" or "Made in USA" or "Australian Made"?
I just read that China rejected a shipment of pacemakers from the United States because of quality issues. Does that mean Americans are deliberately trying to kill Chinese heart patients? Does that mean the Chinese people should be raising hell about the $35 billion of US imports coming into China?
Or does it mean that everybody involved needs to be doing more to ensure that quality and safety issues are dealt with?
Sure, Tim. It's benefiting people in South Africa, New Zealand and Singapore because the company that imports and sells the DVD player, while based here in Australia, also has offices and manufacturing centers in South Africa, New Zealand and Singapore. My purchase also helped the retailer, who was also here in Australia. And the US connection is because I bought the thing on eBay, which is a US-based company.
Amazing how one little transaction can have an impact in so many different places, isn't it? :)
At the end of the day what difference does it make ?''.
The difference it makes, is if it comes out of China , you WILL be foaming at the mouth!.
You buy your prawns fresh mate, But you may not be doing that much longer either , all the half price drug infected prawns MY COUNTRY has imported from China for years, have just about crippled our fishing industry. So enjoy those fresh local prawns while you can.
And there is a big difference between a fault in an electronic pace maker, and ''deliberately'' adding antibiotics to food to give it a longer shelf life.
Your mention of heavy metals e coli and bio-toxins, have nothing to do with, DELIBERATELY ADDING DRUGS TO FOOD and like all your arguments, are just smoke and mirrors. People like you are good at diverting the real issues.
Anyway enjoy your fresh Australian prawns mate, My friends cant afford them anymore, What with the price at almost fifty bucks a kilo. I have been lucky though, I get my seafood from my mate Mick who operates a prawning boat. But he has to sell his boat and three generation family business. Poor guy , He blames it on all the cheap seafood coming out of China, recons he just cant compete with the prices. But he will kick on, that is the Australian spirit, But something tells me you wouldn't know much about that Will.
Darcey D.
"Long term exposure to high levels can be harmful, causing problems ranging from ninor skin rashes to some types of cancer.
Tests discovered concentrations of the chemical up to 900 times above teh adult safety limit in childrens/adults' wollen and cotton clothes. The NZealand findings have been passed onto Trading Standards officials in the UK.
Formaldehyde resins have been used on fabrics for decades to make wrinkle-free and stain resistant garments and to keep the crease in men's trousers."
The above is from today's UK Daily Mail in an article by Sean Poulter.
Your mention of heavy metals e coli and bio-toxins, have nothing to do with, DELIBERATELY ADDING DRUGS TO FOOD and like all your arguments, are just smoke and mirrors. People like you are good at diverting the real issues."
And what exactly are the real issues, Darcey? If you think my arguments are smoke and mirrors, then please feel free to give us the facts, plain and simple. If you can, because from what I can tell, you don't seem to have a very solid grasp of the facts.
For example, you've said the Chinese are "deliberately adding antibiotics to food to give it a longer shelf life." That's simply not true. They use antibiotics to control bacteria levels in their ponds or tanks. According to Dr. Nigel Preston, they don't need to use them if they maintain water quality, but obviously they don't always manage to do so.
You also didn't mention the fact that both AQIS and Food Standards Australia have said that the antibiotics aren't harmful to humans. Or that tests by AQIS on prawns farmed right here in Australia have also detected the same antibiotics.
Apparently the EU has banned the import of any seafood with these antibiotics, and I don't have a problem with it if Australia bans the sale of all prawns, domestic or imported, with antibiotics or any other kind of contamination.
As for the pacemakers, are you sure it was a fault? How do you know? Because the inspectors said the pulse strength was too variable to be safe. They refused shipment of nearly 300 pacemakers. Are you saying they all happened to have the same fault? And China had so many problems back in 2001 with pacemakers made by the same US-based company, that they temporarily banned the importation of all pacemakers. Do you think that company was deliberately trying to endanger Chinese heart patients?
Do you think that China should be so worried about importing products from the US that they should stop buying airplanes, machine tools, powerplant equipment and all the other stuff they buy from American companies?
"Anyway enjoy your fresh Australian prawns mate, My friends cant afford them anymore, What with the price at almost fifty bucks a kilo. I have been lucky though, I get my seafood from my mate Mick who operates a prawning boat. But he has to sell his boat and three generation family business. Poor guy , He blames it on all the cheap seafood coming out of China, recons he just cant compete with the prices. But he will kick on, that is the Australian spirit, But something tells me you wouldn't know much about that Will."
I'm not sure what you're getting at, Darcey. Restricting imports should help your mate, Mick, since he won't have to compete with the Asian prawn farmers. But your mates who can't afford fresh Aussie prawns now are going to be even worse off than before. I guess you'll be alright as long as Mick helps you out, so maybe you can share with your other mates.
Darcey D.
Darcey D.
Huge difference between 300 pacemakers and 2.7 million toys recalled because of excessive lead paint. And that doesen't include the tires, the tootpaste, the mouthwash, the pet food and I'm sure this list will grow and grow.
Also note Ishbel's example of the formaldehyde used on Chinese made clothing.
I'm sure that tall of this is just the tip of the iceberg concerning Chinese imports.
Darcey D.
Are you sure those Asian prawns with white spot were going to wipe out the Australian fishing industry? Has there ever been a case of a dead prawn passing on white spot to a live prawn? Apparently not. But in any case, I think the new import regulations could be a good thing. If they survive the legal challenges, both in Australian courts and the WTO.
But while they may help out the Aussie fishing industry, it might not be such good news for people who like to good Aussie prawns. You say your buddies can't afford them at $50 a kilo, but I read one news story that said with these new regulations, and with the scarcity of local prawns, the price could hit $70 or even higher. That won't be a problem for people who don't mind paying $100 a plate at a 5-star restaurant, but it could mean that the rest of us can't afford them.
Huge difference between 300 pacemakers and 2.7 million toys recalled because of excessive lead paint. And that doesen't include the tires, the tootpaste, the mouthwash, the pet food and I'm sure this list will grow and grow.
I guess it depends if you were one of the 300 people who would've had one of those pacemakers. And lets not forget the 7.3 million toys that were recalled because of a design flaw. And the Chinese have also seized shipments of orange pulp and dried apricots from the US because they contained excessive bacteria, sulfur dioxide and mildew. And if you go to any of the recall websites (like www.recalls.gov), you can see that there are all sorts of products being recalled, and not all of them are manufactured in China. In fact, at the Australian recall site I see that there's a Harley-Davidson recall. Those bikes are "Made in the USA", aren't they?
I guess if there's a bright side to all this, it might be that people start to take more notice of these things. With the right kinds of pressure from both consumers and governments, maybe companies in many countries will raise their standards. And maybe consumers will be more careful and think before they buy.
And with a bit of luck, they might do a bit more that just check to see whether it says "Made in China."
And so will the APFA , and bio-security Australia, who must believe white spot is a very real threat to the Australian fishing industry, otherwise , why the bans !.
Bio-Security Australia said in it's risk analysis report that the likelihood of white spot syndrome virus, via the unrestricted importation of non-viable farmed sourced prawns, intended for human consumption is high. And as Tim said this is only the tip of the Ice Berg.
The White Spot syndrome virus is not the only disease to be detected in seafood imported from China, it also contains, Yellow Head Virus, and Taura Syndrome Virus.
At present Australia's 36,000km coastline is one of the few countries in the world who are free from these diseases. Diseases that all our Crabs Lobster and numerous crustaceans species are susceptible to contracting.
So you see Will, it really is Just the tip of the Ice Berg, when you consider the importation of Seafood into Australia could potentially, destroy a 35, billion dollar industry. Not to mention the destruction of our coastlines and their natural resources.
Darcey D.
Now Wal-Mart has pulled certain Chinese made dog toys from its shelves.
Chinese made clothing with formaldehyde.
What part of this are you not getting Wil?
Now how do you suppose consumers are to distinguish between food products that our own food and drug administration deems these products as palatable, and the only way consumers find out is through death or health problems?
God forbid, but if one of your loved ones were to become seriously ill or even die because of this tainted food would you "look on the bright side of this" or do you think that you would be horrified/pissed off that our government would let something happen like this in America?
The part where you only seem to care about recalled products if they were made in China.
Well guess what Wil....since the vast majority of the products available on our shelves here in the U.S. are imported from China and considering t