Mattel has just sent out its third major recall for toys around the world. Mattel has recalled over 800,000 toys, with around 675,000 of those being accessories to Mattel's extremely popular Barbie brand products. Around 90,000 of the Mattel products were of the GeoTrax locomotive toy line, and about 9000 were Big Big World six-in-one Bongo Band sets. Mattel's GeoTrax line has been selling around the nation from September of 2006 to August of this year, and the Big Big World sets have been selling from July of this year to this August.

A mere three weeks ago, Mattel had ordered another recall of almost nineteen million toys worldwide, stating that the sets contained either pieces that contained a high amount of lead paint, or easily removable small magnets. Before that, in the beginning of August, Mattel's Fisher Price division recalled almost one and a half million toys, based on big brand characters such as Elmo, Big Bird, and Dora the Explorer, citing the discovery of lead paint on their parts. Almost one million of these were from the United States.

Officials say that more recalls may be necessary before long, as Mattel officials are investigating deeply into the Chinese companies and manufacturers and are increasing production checks.

Mattel has lost much of its reputation, and company shares have fallen recently. Many subcontractors are now refusing to manufacture Mattel brand products. But that is not the least of the problems that Mattel and other toy companies are facing.

More than eighty percent of the toys around the world are manufactured in China. But with all of the recent recalls in many toy companies, citing lead paint and low quality parts, and with most of these substandard toys coming from China, toy companies may have to find a new country to base their factories in.

Toys are not the only product from China being recalled. Almost 450,000 tires were recalled, after the Chinese supplier stopped including a safety feature that would prevent tires from separating. Many brands of toothpaste made in China were found to have contained a chemical called diethyline glycol (DEG), a substance poisonous to humans.

And in March of 2007, millions of cans of dog and cat food were recalled. After much investigation, it was found that the cause for alarm was mainly in wet pet foods that contained wheat gluten manufactured by a Chinese company. They are now investigating the possibility that the wheat gluten may contain melamine.
Parents need to be aware of the products that contain the lead paint, and to keep their children safe from these hazards. Also beware any edible product, such as toothpaste and pet food, which is manufactured in China.

Learn more about this author, John Hanes.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Made in China: Mattel Recalls toys for safety issues?
We want to hear your view. Write now!