Another day, another Mattel toy recall. For a company that once used the slogan "you can tell it's Mattel, it's swell!" the latest recall of more than
884,000 playthings made in China is anything but swell for the company. The day after a new lead paint contamination scare, the company is doing everything it can to assure consumers its on top of the problem. "I want to assure you that we continue to keep our promise to parents around the world, through our steadfast commitment to the safety of children who play with our toys," vows Robert Eckert in an online message to customers. (
See it here)
But parents who've bought the playthings for their kids are becoming fed up with all the excuses and the call backs, as well as the danger they present to their families. And many are vowing to check all the labels carefully to ensure nothing they purchase in future comes from the cheaper factories of the Far East. "I think that, if it continues like this, the trust is going to disappear, and so it should," agrees Eleanor Friedland of the
Consumers Council of Canada.
Excessive lead levels, which can cause brain damage in children who may accidentally ingest the substance, are just part of an ongoing problem with products coming from the country. Last week, a number of chocolates were recalled after moths and larva were found alive inside the candies. And few pet owners can forget the terror of the
tainted dog food that killed some animals, sickened others and left dog and cat lovers mistrusting what they gave their best friends.
"Problem products have only accounted for a very small part of products that
China
exported worldwide," said Liu Yi, Consulate General of China spokesperson.
"Because the products are made in
China
, doesn't mean bad quality," she maintains.
But when it comes to their children's safety, many parents don't want to risk it. "I don't buy toys made in China. I buy them made in Germany," explains one woman. "Because they're guaranteed and they're lead-free."
Others acknowledge that abandoning such a big toymaker, especially one that owns the Barbie brand, will be next to impossible. They're willing to give the giant corporation a chance to clean up its global act. "I'm hoping that Mattel will deal with another supplier from now on in," a consumer sighs. "As a great-aunt, I have to buy toys for girls and boys, and it does ... give you some cause for concern."
But Friedland acknowledges that knowing about the toys and getting them back are two very different things. "Try taking a favourite toy away from a 2½-year-old," she challenges. "And see how that works ... It's very, very difficult. Even if you replace it. I'm going by my little grandson, and he says 'I want them both.' And it's not just parents ... It's day care centres. It's nursery schools. It's kindergartens. It's grandparents. It's hospitals. It's doctors' offices that have a lot of toys to amuse the children while they're there. This is a major consumer issue."
To see the full list of banned toys, for full page pictures of the specific components affected, and to find out where to return them,
click here.
Lead dangers in kids