Mattel issues fourth toy recall over lead fears
Mattel has recalled a production run of a single product sold in three markets due to high levels of lead.
The toy is the Go Diego Go Animal Rescue Boat from Fisher-Price, which has two painted logos that may be affected. The toys were sold at retail after June
2007 in the U.S., the U.K., the Republic of Ireland and Canada. Toys sold before this date are not affected. There are 38,000 affected toys in the U.S., 12,000 in the U.K and the Republic of Ireland and 5,500 in Canada. No other countries are affected.
“Mattel has now tested samples of the vast majority of products expected to ship for the holiday season, including those produced before the implementation of our three-point check testing system,” said Geoff Massingberd, senior vice president of the company’s newly-created Corporate Responsibility organization. “This testing program continues and all toys manufactured since the adoption of the new system have been, and continue to be, sampled and tested prior to leaving the manufacturing facility.”
Mattel sourced a piece of the product for molding and painting to Man Shing, a facility which then subcontracted the painting to Hua Yi, which used unauthorized paint. The toys were produced between May 17, 2007, and August 11, 2007.
Mattel is working in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and applicable regulatory agencies in the EU and Canada. Mattel is also working with retailers in those three countries to identify and remove affected products from retail shelves.
