Mattel Issues Third Toy Recall In Just Over A Month/Recall List

It’s been a rough stretch for Mattel Inc., and that rough stretch worsened Tuesday after the toy maker issued another major recall, this time regarding a third batch of Chinese-made toys that may contain excessive amounts of lead paint.

Mattel voluntarily recalled 9 toys in Canada and 11 toys globally, including seven pet and furniture toys sold under the Barbie brand in Canada and two Fisher-Price toys sold in Canada, due to impermissible levels of lead.    In total, there are 25,500 toys affected in Canada and a total of 844,000 affected around the world.

It’s the third recall this summer for the world’s largest toy maker.

“In August we promised that we’d continue to focus on ensuring the safety and quality of our toys through extensive testing of finished products, thorough investigation of our vendors and the implementation of a strengthened three-point check system,”  said Robert A. Eckert, chairman and chief executive officer, Mattel.

“As a result of our ongoing investigation we discovered additional affected products.  Consequently, several subcontractors are no longer manufacturing Mattel toys.  We apologize again to everyone affected and promise that we will continue to focus on ensuring the safety and quality of our toys.”

Mattel’s last recall came on Aug. 14, and covered about 19 million toys worldwide, all of which had either excessive amounts of lead paint or small magnets that could easily be swallowed by children.

And at the start of August, Mattel’s Fisher-Price division said it was recalling 1.5 million preschool toys featuring characters like Dora the Explorer, Big Bird and Elmo because of lead paint. That recall spanned 967,000 toys sold in the United States between May and August.

The concern over the lead content in the toys has to do with the potential brain damage it can cause when ingested by young children. Under current U.S. regulations, children’s products found to have more than .06 per cent lead accessible to users are subject to a recall.
  
The third recall in just over a month shouldn’t come as a surprise though, Mattel executives warned of more recalls at an early August press conference amidst promises the company would step up its investigations into its Chinese factories.

But that won’t help the company’s image, which has been battered by the string of recalls and the impression that they lack control over production of their goods in China. And the situation has sparked concern for other manufacturers, since with more than 80 per cent of toys sold worldwide made in China toy sellers are nervous shoppers will shy away from their products during this year’s critical holiday season.

How can you tell if you have one of the affected items (see list below)?  “The first thing you have to do is look at your child’s toy,” suggests Eleanor Friedland of the Consumers Council of Canada. “Turn it over, because sometimes where it says it’s made in is not  underneath … Turn it upside down, see what it is. If it’s a Mattel toy, then by all means call that telephone number.”

In Canada, there are seven recalled Barbie-branded toys, two Fisher-Price playthings and one from It’s a Big Big World (To see each one, click the links.) The specific affected parts include:

• Dream Puppy House – range on miniature dog
• Dream Kitty Condo –  brown on miniature cat
• Table & Chairs Kitchen Playset – yellow food on two dinner plates, brown on miniature dog, yellow and orange on potato chip bowl, orange on salad bowl
• Bathtub & Toilet Playset – brown on miniature cat

• Desk & Chair Bedroom Playset – brown on miniature dog

• Living Room Playset (deluxe) – brown on miniature cat and  Living Room Playset (premium) – yellow flower on purse

• Fisher-Price GEOTRAX Rail & Road System Freightway Transport – red engine
• GEOTRAX Special Track Pack – red engine
• “It’s a Big Big World” 6-in-1 Bongo Band – blue bongo

How to Return Affected Toys/Parts:

1)     The first step is for consumers to determine if they have a toy that has been affected by the recall.  To do so, they can visit http://www.mattel.com/safety/us/ where they will find a complete list of each toy recalled in Canada, including colour photos, toy model numbers and affected date codes.  Consumers can locate toy model numbers on the bottom of most recalled toys. 

Consumers preferring phone support can call 1-888-496-8330.

2)    Once consumers determine that they think they own a Mattel toy affected by the recall, they are prompted to fill out a form (online) or provide their postal address (via phone), and Mattel will send to consumers (via email or to a postal address) a colour brochure with photos, toy numbers and date code ranges of every affected toy, as well as a pre-paid mailing label for return of the affected part(s).

3)    After receiving consumers’ returned, affected part(s), Mattel will send consumers replacement parts for each affected product, as well as bonus pieces/parts.

Mattel recommends that consumers do not return toys to retailers for three reasons:

1)       Mattel can help consumers determine if a toy has been affected by the recall (vs. returning an unaffected toy)

2)       Mattel will provide consumers with a replacement part for each toy part affected by the recall

3)       Mattel will handle affected products in an environmentally friendly way

Consumers do not need to have the toy’s original packaging or a receipt to return affected products to Mattel.

From Mattel Press Release