Toy Safety Recall Due to Lead Exposure

CHILDHOOD LEAD EXPOSURE

(LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM) Thursday, December 2, 2022 – If you have been shopping for your children for the holidays in East Aurora, N.Y., you should check their toys as soon as possible. “Yesterday, Mattel issued an urgent recall of more than 1.9m potentially dangerous toys made in China due to fears about unsafe lead levels in paint and loose magnets. The listed items are: Polly Pocket dolls and accessories, Batman action figures, Sarge die-cast cars, Barbie and Tanner magnetic figures, and Doggie Day Care playsets.” (Guardian, 2021) Mattel and Fisher-Price have put the lives of kids in danger. If you have been affected, please use gloves while handling toys, place them in a bag, and bring them back to the store for a full refund. Any child exposed to infected toys should be tested at their primary care provider. “Jim Walter, senior vice-president of worldwide quality assurance at Mattel, said the company had implemented a strengthened three-point check system, testing paint at each vendor, tightening controls and increasing random inspections, and testing every production run on finished toys.” (Guardian, 2021)

“The subcontractor, Hong Li Da Plastic Cement Products Facility, used paint from a non-authorized supplier, and it was not inspected adequately until after the toys were made and distributed.” (Guardian News and Media, 2007) The current legislation in China will try to enforce stricter inspections of imported/exported goods for the public's safety. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has apologized for the inconvenience this may have caused and accepts full responsibility for this incident. They are highlighting future ways to combat against this unfortunate event. Consumers are advised to stop the use of recalled products immediately. The manufacturers did an excellent job of preventing other toys from being made and identifying the problem before complete distribution. “In 2008, the Consumer Product and Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) was signed, requiring toys and infant products to be tested to mandatory standards before being sold.” (CDC, 2021)

Mattel and Fisher-Price could have improved the effort by utilizing an authorized paint supplier and waiting for test results before manufacturing products. Toy stores could incorporate a testing center in their warehouses or storefronts to ensure buyer-seller trust. For additional information on lead-in toys, visit the CPSC website or call 1 (800) 638-2272 to ensure your child's toys are safe. You can find photos and descriptions of toys recalled on that website. “No safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to affect IQ, the ability to pay attention, and academic achievement. The good news is that childhood lead exposure is preventable.” (CDC, 2021)

About Childhood Lead Exposure

Childhood lead exposure affects children from nine months to two years at a greater rate due to them putting items in their mouths and crawling on the floor. A parent can regularly get a blood test done on their child or children to ensure their safety. “Symptoms of lead poisoning include: loss of appetite, feeling tired or irritable, poor growth, nausea and vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, headaches, joint pain, and muscle weakness. High exposure levels can cause confusion, seizures, poor brain development, comas, and death.” (Gavin, 2021)

###

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, November 29). Lead hazards in toys. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved December 2, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/leadintoys/index.html.

Gavin, M. L. (2021, July). Lead poisoning (for parents) - Nemours kid's health. KidsHealth. Retrieved December 2, 2021, from https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/lead-poisoning.html.

Guardian News and Media. (2007, August 15). Mattel recalls 1.9m potentially dangerous Chinese-made toys. The Guardian. Retrieved December 2, 2021, from https://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/aug/15/usnews.china1.