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Chinese toy boss 'kills himself' | Chinese toy boss 'kills himself' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The boss of a Chinese toy firm involved in a huge safety recall has committed suicide, Chinese media has said. | The boss of a Chinese toy firm involved in a huge safety recall has committed suicide, Chinese media has said. |
Zhang Shuhong, who co-owned the Lee Der Toy Company, was reportedly found dead at his factory in southern China. | |
About 1.5 million toys made for Fisher Price, a subsidiary of US giant Mattel, were withdrawn from sale earlier this month. Many were made by Lee Der. | About 1.5 million toys made for Fisher Price, a subsidiary of US giant Mattel, were withdrawn from sale earlier this month. Many were made by Lee Der. |
The recalled toys include characters from Sesame Street's Big Bird and Elmo, and Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer. | The recalled toys include characters from Sesame Street's Big Bird and Elmo, and Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer. |
Increasing scrutiny | Increasing scrutiny |
Zhang killed himself on Saturday, according to the Southern Metropolitan Daily and other news sources. | Zhang killed himself on Saturday, according to the Southern Metropolitan Daily and other news sources. |
He reportedly hanged himself in his factory. | He reportedly hanged himself in his factory. |
"When I rushed there around 5pm, police had already sealed off the area," the newspaper quoted a manager at the firm as saying. "I saw that our boss had two deep marks in his neck." | "When I rushed there around 5pm, police had already sealed off the area," the newspaper quoted a manager at the firm as saying. "I saw that our boss had two deep marks in his neck." |
The news report did not give a reason for Zhang's apparent suicide, but Lee Der was known to be under pressure after the huge product recall. | The news report did not give a reason for Zhang's apparent suicide, but Lee Der was known to be under pressure after the huge product recall. |
Fisher Price announced on 2 August that it was recalling some of Lee Der's Chinese-made toys, in a move affecting 83 product-types sold around the world, including the US and the UK. | Fisher Price announced on 2 August that it was recalling some of Lee Der's Chinese-made toys, in a move affecting 83 product-types sold around the world, including the US and the UK. |
An internal investigation found the toys had been made using a non-approved paint pigment which contained excessive amounts of lead, violating safety standards. | An internal investigation found the toys had been made using a non-approved paint pigment which contained excessive amounts of lead, violating safety standards. |
A manager at Lee Der blamed its paint supplier for the incident, according to the Southern Metropolitan Daily. | A manager at Lee Der blamed its paint supplier for the incident, according to the Southern Metropolitan Daily. |
Chinese-made products have come under increasing international scrutiny in recent months, after a series of safety scandals. | |
A substance found in pet food made in China caused the death of a number of animals in the United States, and toxic ingredients were also found in Chinese-made toothpaste. | A substance found in pet food made in China caused the death of a number of animals in the United States, and toxic ingredients were also found in Chinese-made toothpaste. |
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