ANOTHER toy recall is coming

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bluesuze

Saved 8/14/07 to The Mommy Club

ANOTHER toy recall is coming

Just saw on the news this morning that Mattell is going to announce yet ANOTHER toy recall due to excessive lead in the paint.

Is anyone else getting as disgusted as I am???

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/AFX-0013-18873781.h...

I'll post the new info when I see it in my group, The Mommy Club

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wynter 5 years 40 weeks

We have some of the Magnet toys, but both of my kiddos are at the age where they've stopped putting toys in their mouths. With the lead, we just had a few Thomas trains. I threw them away - they don't play with their trains very much anymore anyway. With the millions of toys they have (or so it seems lol), I think we came out pretty lucky with these.

sofi 5 years 40 weeks

thanks ALSW. Yeah, I try to keep updated on recalls, but when recalls are limited to certain dates products were sold rather than earlier or later, I just wonder if there are new tests and the older products weren't held to those standards? So much to think about and close atention is needed by all parents and consumers. I can only imagine the anxiety you could have knowing all you do. I also do research, and there are things that just freak me out now that I wouldn't think much about before.

ALSW 5 years 40 weeks

Oh, and FYI - the Fisher Price lead recalls of all those different toys - there were absolutely no incidents or injuries reported with those products. But Polly Pocket? According to the press release: Since the previous recall announcement, Mattel has received more than 400 additional reports of magnets coming loose. CPSC was aware in the first recall announcement of 170 reports of the magnets coming out of the recalled toys. There had been three reports of serious injuries to children who swallowed more than one magnet. All three suffered intestinal perforations that required surgery. That's why I say those magnets are a huge problem.

ALSW 5 years 40 weeks

Actually, the magnet problem has been around since March of 2006, but people are just getting educated about it now, especially with the Polly Pocket recalls. I can tell you that if you go to cpsc.gov or recalls.gov, you can sign up to get all recalls on there. It will tell you on the press release what the problem is and what you can do about it. It should also tell you whether there have been any deaths associated with these products. That doesn't happen often, so those are of particular importance and they just don't get the media exposure that they should. Both those sites also store recalls, so if you wanted to look at older products that concern you, you definitely could. I'm not sure if the lead standard has changed in the past few years - I know it went through a major overhaul in the late 90's, but I'm not sure if it's happened again since. I do know that changing the standard is not a simple or easy process and certainly not a quick one (it is the government), so don't expect immediate results. But there is a huge focus on these products right now and companies seem to be doing their part as well, so we're finding out about more of these products too, which is definitely good. I'm not sure what I can tell you really other than to be vigilante and check for new recalls. If you're concerned about something, there's also the CPSC Hotline (which should be on the website) and they can put you in contact with a compliance officer, whether it's about an older product or a new one that you're concerned about. All I know is that I'm going to be one nervous parent, knowing what I do! And believe me, I recognize that lead is a huge problem these days, but there are a lot of other toy and household product that parents need to know about that just aren't getting the attention and should be. And that frustrates me to no end, especially since people think lead is the only problem.

ALSW 5 years 40 weeks

No, I don't have children. But I can't tell you that it's not that EXCESSIVE of lead. It's just over what's regulated. No one has died from ingesting that lead, unlike other products that people don't know about. And THAT horrifies me more - that a product that has caused children TO DIE hasn't gotten any media attention and parents are still in the dark.

sofi 5 years 40 weeks

I too am disgusted and horrified by all of this. The magnet problem just came up today. A lot of Polly pocket playsets as well as batman action figures (there is more but that is what stands out now) have magnets attched to interchangeable pieces. If the magnets dislodge and kids swallow magnets- well, two or more, there is a fear the magnets attracting each other in the intestines and causing a blockage. ALSW- is there any more that you can tell us about all of this. we are just concerned about ANY harm to our children whether paint or swallowing dangerous parts. My big question is what are the standards? The tests done currently, are they the same tests done years ago? I guess I am concerned because my kids have outgrown the current recalled toys, but what is to guarantee toys I have laying around or my kids HAD played with before the recall were safe. Will there be new regulations in the near future because of this massive recall/oversite? Concerned parents just want answers and quick solutions.

ALSW 5 years 40 weeks

I can't say that I'm surprised but mostly becuz I work with them. Right now, these are the hot topics - China and lead - so companies like Mattel have a convenient scapegoat in a way. The magnet problem is much more serious - several children have died because they've ingested small magnets. The magnets go in and if they get on opposing sides of the intenstines, they can cause it to rupture. Companies have had to recall products like Polly Pockets and Magnetix magnetic building blocks because of it and I wouldn't be surprised if there were more down the pipeline. But for whatever reason, this doesn't get as much press as the lead problem that's currently so hot. You can go to recalls.gov or cpsc.gov and find out more about what products have been recalled too.

rubialala 5 years 40 weeks

I am very surprised at all of the recent recalls for sure. ALSW, what is the "magnet problem?"

bluesuze 5 years 40 weeks

ALSW, I'm guessing that you don't have children. Because if you did, you'd be horrified at the thought of your little 1 year old chewing on a plastic toy (which is what they do at 1 year old) and then finding out that that toy got recalled due to excessive levels of lead in the paint.

ALSW 5 years 40 weeks

Why disgusted? Becuz people keep making this stuff and selling it like there's no problem? I work for the government agency that's doing the recalls and I gotta tell you, I'd be more worried about the magnet problems than the lead recalls...