TPR TOYS : The material burns to fast = unsafe !

This kind of toys, made of TPR, is highly flammable due to the addition of oil during the manufacturing process. No TPR toy can be considered safe for children. This week, a recall happened, once again, in Germany for the toy shown below.

MATTEL fined $2.3 mln for lead-tainted toys from China

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has fined MATTEL Inc $2.3 million for violating a ban on bringing dangerous products into the United States.  

The fine stems from the toymaker's 2007 recall of 95 types of toys and up to 2 million units, primarily for excessive lead in paint, including the "Sarge" toy car and Barbie brand accessories. 

A 1978 law bans toys and other children's articles that have more than 0.06 percent lead by weight in coatings. 

Source: Reuters

Main risks caused by recalled toys in 2008

The main product safety risks that caused european 2008 recalls (all product categories) are listed below :

CHINA : Nothing new...

China remains the factory of the world as we look at the statistics of recalled products originating country for all 2008 european recalls.  

EUROPE : Toys is still the major recalled product category

In 2008, TOYS is still the major recalled product category representing 32% of all products recalled by european authorities in 2008.

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EUROPE: 2008 product recalls at record high

Product recalls and notifications of dangerous merchandise reached record levels in the European Union last year, with the number of suspect goods reported more than double that in the US. The rate of notifications was up by about 15 per cent and 1,546 faulty items were reported, compared with 1,337 in the previous year and more than 700 in 2005.

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Disney recalls 'Handy Manny' tool sets

Disney Stores USA, Pasadena, Calif., is recalling 20,000 units of its made in China Playhouse Disney “Handy Manny” Toy Tool Sets that contain eyes that can separate, posing a choking hazard to young children. There have been three reports of detached eyes, including two reports of children who started to choke on the pieces. No injuries have been reported.

Despite the CPSC recall notice dated Feb 19th , many international eBay websites suchwere still selling these auctions Disney toys, with some auctions originating after the recall.

It seems eBay is not reading the CPSC recall notices.

More importantly, it seems even Disney did not look into these then-fraudulous auctions where they could click on the eBay button to signal that this item is forbidden (which is possible on the european eBay sites), so that eBay can immediatly stop the corresponding auctions.  

The recalled toy UPC-barcodes #405144100614 or #422147400633 can be located on the product’s packaging. Because the recall is concerning "only" 20000 pcs, it might be that the other toys on sale might not be from the same shipment, but who knows the UPC-barcodes fof the toys auctions originating after the recall ?

PRODUCT RECALLS NOTICES

A new regulation that would force importers to inform their national authorities about the names & locations of the factories that produced the recalled products would truly help Chinese authorities, other importers & B2B chinese portals to clean up the mess. The unrespectfull factories should go out of business as soon as possible, to let us do our work properly with the respectfull ones !

We all need to have a proper blacklist of unrespectfull or dangerous factoriess.

The problem is that the official product recalls notices published by official governmental safety agencies (which are the only way to gather 100% of the recall information) should also include the names of the factories that produced the toys, in order to help B2B export products portals such as www.made-in-china.com to exclude these factories from their website.

Of course, this would not include the subcontractors of these factories who may be the true cause of the problem, but aren't the main factories responsible for the subcontractors, and the trading companies for their suppliers.

In 2007, Aubrey Liu, who works in the Web operations department of Made-in-China, said in an email message (to the International Herald Tribune) that it was difficult for her department to pick out recalled products on her site because the Us Consumer Product Safety Commission does not include the names of manufacturers in recall notices.

This is an example of the US CPSC product recall for Fisher Price Toys :

Why don't we mention the factory names on the recall notices ?

Importers who Toy makers who get their products recall don't want to mention the factory names for various reasons :

1) They need time to investigate & solve the problem with the factory to understand the true cause of the problems. In a way, this also gives them the time to fake & organise an alternative story to tell to the media & clients. It's too late for an independant analysis of the situation in the factory.

2) They don't want additional the reporters to know, as it would draw even more media attention

3) They are afraid of the action groups such as China Labor Watch, a famous action group that already investigated factories that work for Disney, GAP or Wal-Mart.

4) The factories don't want the importers to make the information public, as they fear for their reputation and for a closure by the Chinese authorities. Since August, many factories have been shut down by the Chinese government bodies.

Still, this is exactly what needs to be done.

Mc DONALD'S toy recall

In March 2001, McDonald's voluntarily recalled about 234,000 toys that come with the restaurant chain's Happy Meals after learning three children had choked or gagged on the "Scooter Bug" antenna, which is prone to breaking off. McDonald's has received two reports of children choking and one report of a child gagging on the broken off antenna.

The Scooter Bug toy is about 3 inches long and 2 1/2 inch wide. When rolled across the floor, the bug's legs move back and forth. The bug has a yellow face with red antennas, orange feet and a purple body with green spots. The words "Fisher Price" are on the top of the toy. The words "MFG.FOR MCD CORP.CHINA" are on the rear of the toy.

McDonald's restaurants in the U.S. and Canada distributed the toys with Happy Meals from November 2000 through February 2001.

CHICK-FIL-A : Toy recall

In February 2001, Chick-fil-A recalled 3.8 million "Planet Discovery" Kid's Meal toys because the suction cup may come off, posing a choking hazard. The toys were distributed at restaurants nationwide during January 1999 and again in January 2001.

The CPSC received seven reports of the suction cup coming off. In one case a child began choking, but the cup was removed before the child needed medical attention.

The toys depict the solar system with individual parts depicting planets, the moon, and the sun. They come in a plastic bag printed with the words, "Parents: this toy has been safety tested for children of all ages."

Printed on the toy is "Chick-fil-A Inc. 1999","1998 Namkung Promotions Inc" and "China."

A free replacement toy is available at Chick-fil-A.

BURGER KING : Pokemon ball toy recall

In 1999, Burger King recalled toy Pokemon balls after a 13-month-old California girl suffocated on the toy and a 4-month-old Indianapolis boy died when the ball-shaped container lodged over his mouth and nose. Another 18-month-old girl reportedly also had a ball-half stuck over her face, causing her distress. However, the girl's father (on the second attempt) pulled the ball-half from her face.

The balls may pose a suffocation hazard to children under three years of age. Pokemon balls are the ball-shaped plastic containers that hold Pokemon toys in Burger King kids meals. Either half of the Pokemon ball can become stuck on a child's face, covering the nose and mouth and may cause suffocation of a child under three years of age.

The Pokemon balls are plastic ball-shaped containers between 2 ¾" and 3" in diameter. They pull apart to reveal one of 57 different Pokemon toys inside. The balls were distributed in a variety of colors including red and white, and hot pink. Packaging described them as safety tested and recommended for all ages of children.

Burger King restaurants nationwide distributed the Pokemon balls inside Burger King Kids Club Meals and regular kids meals from early November through December, 1999.

FAZOLI RESTAURANTS : Pasta Pals Toys Recall

In August 2000, 310,000 Pasta Pals toys, distributed by Fazoli's Italian Restaurants have been recalled. The toy is a plastic barrel-shaped container with small plastic tomato and ravioli figures. The bottom of the container can fit over a young child's nose and mouth, posing a possible suffocation hazard.

The Pasta Pals blue container is about 2.5 inches in diameter and 2 inches deep. The toys were distributed from January 2000 through August 2000.

Parents have been advised to discard the container or return it to any Fazoli's restaurant for a free Italian Lemon Ice.

LINKS :
Streaming video of the recall

BURGER KING : Riverboat toy recalled

In March 2001, Burger King announced it was recalling 400,000 "Rattling, Paddling Riverboat'' toys it distributed nationwide between Jan. 15 and Feb. 13 because they posed a choking hazard. Burger King restaurants nationwide distributed the riverboat toys inside Kid's Meals in January and February 2001.

The toys represent a red plastic boat about 2 to 3 inches in diameter. The captain figure squeaks when it is pushed down. When the boat is moved across the floor, beads in the boat's paddle wheel make a rattle sound.
Metal pins with plastic caps that attach the paddle wheel to the riverboat toy can come out and pose a choking hazard.

Burger King Corp. has received 10 reports that the pin on the toy came out. One child was found with the pin in her mouth. Her father removed it and no injuries have been reported. The following words are imprinted on the bottom of the boat, "Sassy , MFG FOR BURGER KING CORP, MADE IN CHINA."

Alcone Marketing Group imported the toys for Burger King.

WENDY'S : Felix the Cat toy recall

Determined Productions Inc. of San Francisco, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 800,000 Felix the Cat roller fun balls distributed with kids' meals at Wendy's restaurants.

The glued seam holding both halves of the ball may separate releasing small plastic fish from inside the ball. The small fish present a potential choking hazard to young children.

Wendy's has received two reports of the glued halves of the ball separating and one child starting to choke on the small fish inside. No injuries have been reported.

The Felix the Cat roller fun ball is a clear plastic ball containing a plastic figure of Felix the Cat and four small, plastic fish. The fish are colored red, yellow, purple, and green. The plastic ball is 2 1/2 inches in diameter and the fish measure 5/8 inch long by 1/4 inch wide. The balls were packaged in a plastic bag labeled in part, "FELIX THE CAT...ROLLER FUN BALL...WENDY'S KIDS' MEAL."

The balls were distributed with kids' meals at Wendy's restaurants nationwide from February 10 through March 4, 1997.

No other Felix the Cat toys distributed with Wendy's kids' meals are included in this recall.

TACO BELL : Finger puppets toys recall

In April 1993, Taco Bell Corp. of Irvine, CA (USA) announced a voluntary recall of items recently distributed in two Kid's Meal promotions by Taco Bell restaurants throughout the United States.

"The Busy World of Richard Scarry" finger puppets, Lowly Worm and Huckle Cat, were recalled, as well as Rocky & Bullwinkle inflatable balls. Taco Bell received complaints that the finger puppets had become stuck on the tongues of three children and several complaints that blowing up the balls caused slight dizziness.

A spokesperson for Taco Bell said, "Taco Bell has elected to recall both items voluntarily from our stores to eliminate any possibility of future customer discomfort and inconvenience. We want to continue to ensure the comfort and safety of our customers."

According to the manufacturer, both products were tested in accordance with CPSC regulations. Approximately 500,000 finger puppets were distributed free in Taco Bell Kid's Meals from January 25 through March 28, 1993. About 80,000 inflatable balls, also free in Kid's Meals, were distributed from March 29 through March 31, 1993.