Bits, Pieces and Recalls

I heard about Thomas the Tank Engine recalls a while ago and alerted my sister, as there was found to be lead in the paint.

In June, for instance, another major toy company, the RC2 Corporation of Illinois, recalled 1.5 million popular Thomas & Friends wooden toy railway sets because for at least two years they were being coated with excessive levels of lead paint, even though the manufacturers were aware of restrictions on lead paint [NY Times]

Well this morning Mattel is all over the news, recalled 9 million products because of the same issue, lead paint, along with magnet problems [Mattel/Safety].

Toys affected by the lead paint are: Fisher Price CARS movie ‘Sarge’ character, Dora the Explorer and Elmo various plastic toys [Recall 1]

Those affected by the magnet recall include: Polly Pocket, Batman Magna Playsets, Barbie and Tanner, Doggie Daycare, Shonen Jump’s One Piece [Recall 2]

My mother would say that when she was little they would play with sharp, pointy, electro-shockey devices full of lead paint all the time. And yes, I remember a couple of my toys or games that, thinking back now, could have really put my eye out, but it’s more an issue of accountability on the toy manufacturers’ part. I’m just super glad that my niece’s preferred gift to receive is actually a book.