Understanding Choking and Lead Hazards with Mattel's Recall

You may be finding that you child's toy box is no longer their best friend. For the second time in only two weeks Mattel and their Fisher Price division has declared a major recall on more than 9 million toys. The toys are considered to have a choking hazard and may contain a hazardous substance called lead.

The recalls should bring to light the safety issues parents need to address when buying toys for their children. As well, you may find that hazards to your children are in your very walls, or favorite antique furniture set. What is Mattel doing to insure better safety regulations in their company? What can we do to insure better safety practices in our homes?

The first class action lawsuit has been reported in the Wall street journal, August 9^th, by a working Alabama mother, she has also included the store chain Target in her lawsuit. Many more have since signed onto the lawsuit and with the newest additions their will certainly be more consumers looking into damages. The company has offered a reimbursement certificate for the specific toys, however many parents are demanding that Mattel pay for medical testing and damages. Now Mattel may find themselves as the target for a worldwide message and lesson to toy companies. Parents want the cost they place into the toys their children love to include the rigorous intentions of companies to keep those children safe as a number one priority.

The two recent recalls from Mattel warn of a possible choking hazards in specific toys and a possibility in lead poisoning in those and some others listed. The company says that the lead containing toys in question were produced in China. The Chinese government has recently been under scrutiny because of questionable practices and uses in many consumer products. In a statement posted on their news release section of their website and on the media, Mattel states that "Consumers should immediately take these products away from children and contact Mattel to arrange return and to receive a voucher for a replacement toy of the consumer's choice, up to the value of the returned product."