9 Million Mattel Toys Recalled

Aug. 14, 2007 -- More than 9 million Mattel toys are being recalled because of?lead-based paint and magnets that may dislodge.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Mattel announced the Mattel toy recall today, citing an abundance of caution with no injuries reported.

The recall includes more than 18 million toys worldwide, including 9.5 million toys in the U.S.

Recalled toys include 7.3 million Polly Pocket play sets, about 253,000 "Sarge" die-cast toy cars, about 683,000 Barbie and Tanner play sets, about 340,000 Batman and One Piece magnetic action figure sets, and about a million Doggie Day Care play sets.

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Reason for Mattel Toy Recall

Most of those toys are being recalled because small, powerful magnets in the toys may come loose. Magnets found by young kids can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforation or blockage, which can be fatal.

The one exception is the "Sarge" die-cast car, which is being recalled because surface paints on the toy could contain excess levels of lead, which is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health problems.

In a news conference, CPSC acting chairwoman Nancy Nord said that no injuries are associated with the new Mattel recall, which was issued out of an "abundance of caution."

The recall isn't the largest ever and only represents a "fraction of the hundreds of millions of toys" available in the U.S., says Nord.

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Today's Mattel Toy Recall

Here is an overview of products included in today's Mattel's toy recall.

• "Sarge" die-cast toy cars: Recalled toys have the markings "7EA" and "China" on the bottom. Cars marked "Thailand" aren't included in the recall.
• Barbie and Tanner play sets. Recalled toys have the model numbers J9472 and J9560. Products made after Jan. 31, 2007, aren't included in the recall.
• Various Polly Pocket dolls and accessories with magnets. Recall is an expansion of the Polly Pocket recall issued in November 2006 due to magnets that may come loose from the toys.
• Various Batman and One Piece magnetic action figure sets. Recall is due to magnets that may fall out of the toys, which were sold nationwide from June 2006 through June 2007 for about $11.
• Various Doggie Day Care play sets. Recall is due to magnets that may fall out of the toys, which were sold nationwide from July 2004 to August 2007 for between $4 and $20.

All of the recalled toys were made in China.

Mattel and the CPSC urge consumers to take the toys away from kids immediately and contact Mattel to receive a replacement toy.

For details on the Mattel toy recall -- including pictures and model numbers for the recalled toys -- visit Mattel's consumer relations web site at http://service.mattel.com/us/recall.asp.

More information is also available by phone. Call the Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall hotline at (800) 638-2772 or Mattel's recall hotline at (800) 916-4997.

Mattel Apologizes

"The safety of children is our primary concern, and we are deeply apologetic to everyone affected," says Mattel Chairman and CEO Robert Eckert in a Mattel news release.

Mattel is beefing up its magnet-retention systems and product testing. The company has also strengthened its efforts to prevent lead-based paints from being used on its products. Read more on what parents should know here.

Today's recall follows Mattel's Aug. 2 recall of nearly a million Fisher-Price toys that were painted with lead-based paint by a Chinese manufacturer and sold in the U.S. from May 1 until the recall began.

At the time, Mattel announced that it was reviewing the procedures used by all of its Chinese manufacturers and would take prompt action if any similar problems were discovered.

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• As you sort through your child's toy box, are you thinking of asking your pediatrician for a lead poisoning test? Some folks on our Parenting: 9-12 Months message board are?doing just that.??Read their comments and share yours.

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