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Toys recalled over safety fears Toys recalled over safety fears
(20 minutes later)
Toymaker Fisher Price is to recall almost one million Chinese-made toys over fears that their paint contains too much lead.Toymaker Fisher Price is to recall almost one million Chinese-made toys over fears that their paint contains too much lead.
An internal probe found the Chinese manufacturer had used a non-approved paint pigment, violating its safety standards, the company said.An internal probe found the Chinese manufacturer had used a non-approved paint pigment, violating its safety standards, the company said.
The recall affects toys that have been on sale in the US and UK since May.The recall affects toys that have been on sale in the US and UK since May.
It is the latest in a series of safety scares involving goods - food, drugs and other products - made in China.It is the latest in a series of safety scares involving goods - food, drugs and other products - made in China.
Mattel Inc, which owns Fisher Price, said the recall affected a total of 967,000 toys, including characters popular with young children such as Sesame Street's Big Bird and Elmo. Mattel Inc, which owns Fisher Price, said the recall affected a total of 967,000 toys, including characters popular with young children such as Sesame Street's Big Bird and Elmo, and Nickelodeon's Dora the explorer.
The company said that it was removing the products from shops and would intercept incoming shipments.The company said that it was removing the products from shops and would intercept incoming shipments.
CHINESE PRODUCT SCARES Pet food - tainted with chemical melamineToothpaste - tainted with chemical diethylene glycol and bacteriaFarmed fish - traces of banned drugs and pesticides foundTyres - fault may cause blow-outsToys - contain lead or pose choking hazardChildren's jewellery - contains leadCeramic heaters - pose fire safety risk Source: FDA and US Consumer Product Safety Commission href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6288096.stm">China's tainted food crisis class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6275758.stm">US consumer fears FISHER PRICE TOY RECALL 83 affected products, including Sesame Street's Elmo and Big Bird, and Nickelodeon's Dora the ExplorerRecalled items have date codes between 109-7LF and 187-7LFAffected products sold in US and UK stores from May 2007 href="http://service.mattel.com/us/recall/39054_IVR.asp?prod=">Full list of affected products "We are still concluding the investigation, how it happened," Fisher Price's general manager, David Allmark, told the Associated Press news agency.
"We are still concluding the investigation, how it happened," Fisher Price's general manager, David Allmark, told the Associated Press news agency.
"But there will be a dramatic investigation on how this happened. We will learn from this," he said."But there will be a dramatic investigation on how this happened. We will learn from this," he said.
Lead is toxic and can pose a health risk to young children if ingested.Lead is toxic and can pose a health risk to young children if ingested.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission urged parents to remove the affected toys from their children and contact Fisher Price.The US Consumer Product Safety Commission urged parents to remove the affected toys from their children and contact Fisher Price.
Other countries, including the UK, Mexico and Canada, are reported to be affected by the recall.Other countries, including the UK, Mexico and Canada, are reported to be affected by the recall.
Almost 100,000 of the affected toys have been sold in the UK and Ireland, said Mattel UK.Almost 100,000 of the affected toys have been sold in the UK and Ireland, said Mattel UK.
Tainted productsTainted products
In recent months there have been a series of scares in the US involving products such as fish, seafood, toothpaste and tyres from China.In recent months there have been a series of scares in the US involving products such as fish, seafood, toothpaste and tyres from China.
In June, toymaker RC2 recalled 1.5 million Chinese-made toy trains after they were found to be coated in paint containing lead.In June, toymaker RC2 recalled 1.5 million Chinese-made toy trains after they were found to be coated in paint containing lead.
Earlier this month, US President George W Bush set up a panel to look at the safety of food and other products imported into the US.Earlier this month, US President George W Bush set up a panel to look at the safety of food and other products imported into the US.
The White House denied the move was aimed specifically at China, saying it is important to check all imports.The White House denied the move was aimed specifically at China, saying it is important to check all imports.
Beijing has accused foreign media of exaggerating problems with Chinese products, but has admitted that safety standards need to improve.Beijing has accused foreign media of exaggerating problems with Chinese products, but has admitted that safety standards need to improve.
In recent weeks, it has taken steps to show it is taking the issue of quality control seriously.In recent weeks, it has taken steps to show it is taking the issue of quality control seriously.
Earlier this month it closed down three companies and arrested several people involved in food and drug scandals that have caused alarm both at home and abroad.Earlier this month it closed down three companies and arrested several people involved in food and drug scandals that have caused alarm both at home and abroad.