In response to growing concerns about toxic levels of lead in paint and metal on children’s toys, Oxford Instruments has developed a hand held electronic lead detector, a veritable rock boulder on the tracks of the Chinese Poison Train.
chinese poison train
Meet The X-MET3000TXR+ Handheld Lead Detector
By 8.29.07
China Says Only 15% Of Mattel Recalls Are Its Responsibility
By 8.27.07
Eighty-five percent of the roughly 20 mln toys that Mattel recalled were due to design faults, Li, the director of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, told reporters.
By 8.27.07
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China pledges to increase product quality standards in the wake of recent recalls, makes point of noting how 50% of its goods are made by foreign companies. [NYT]
Walmart To Test 20% More Toys
By 8.24.07
According to the Washington Post, Walmart will test 20% more toys in an effort to crack down on toy safety. Nu Wexler from Walmart Watch accused them of missing the point:
“Wal-Mart’s not addressing the larger problem of why Chinese toy suppliers are cutting corners with lead paint and melamine,” spokesman Nu Wexler said, referring to a harmful additive found in pet food made in China. “It’s because they’re under enormous pressure from buyers like Wal-Mart, and they’re sacrificing child safety to keep costs low.”
Walmart has hired three firms to help it ramp up the testing. Walmart says:
“We know this is an issue at the top of mind with our customers, and we know we can play a role to reassure them that we have great, safe toys in our stores,” said Laura Phillips, Wal-Mart’s merchandise manager overseeing toys.”
Thomas And Friends Railroading Parents On Shipping Charges For Recalled Toys
By 8.22.07
The maker of Thomas the Tank Engines recalled for lead poisoning promised to send a replacement toy and refund parents the full cost of shipping back the recalled toys, but several parents are angry after receiving less-than-full reimbursement checks.
Melamine Found in Chinese-Made Walmart Dog Treats
By 8.22.07
Remember the dog treats that Walmart quietly pulled from its shelves instead of recalling? Walmart’s own tests have shown they were tainted with melamine, the same chemical that killed all those pets back in March. Fun.
New Zealand And Australia Recall Chinese-Made Formaldehyde Tainted Blankets
By 8.22.07
The formaldehyde-tainting scandal over in New Zealand and Australia continues today with a recall of Chinese-made blankets that are so full of formaldehyde that they could cause skin or respiratory irritation, according to the Associated Press.
Wholesale firm Charles Parsons said the level of formaldehyde in the Superlux brand of blankets ‘may cause short-term skin or respiratory irritation.’
By 8.22.07
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Chinese factory took used chopsticks and resold them, without even disinfecting first. [Reuters]
Lawsuit Says Mattel Should Pay For Lead Testing
By 8.21.07
A lawsuit filed Monday asks Mattel to pay for lead testing to determine if children have been exposed to lead from the millions of recalled toys.
Boy Catches Fire After Wearing Pajamas With 500 Times The Safe Level Of Formaldehyde
By 8.21.07
A New Zealand boy suffered third-degree burns after his Chinese-made pajamas, a brand recalled for containing 500-900 times the safe levels of formaldehyde, caught fire after he sat near a gas heater.
Walmart Offers Owner $2,000 For Killing Her Chihuahua With Toxic Chicken Bestro Jerky Strips It Would Rather Quietly Pull Than Officially Recall
By 8.21.07
Walmart pulls Chinese-made Chicken Bestro Jerky Strips from shelves after customers complain about their pets getting sick. No full recall announced, but they put a transaction block on the item. Then a woman’s Chihuahua dies from a toxic bacteria after eating the strips. Now another woman says her dog died from eating the strips.
New Zealand TV Program Says Chinese-Made Children's Clothes Are Contaminated With Formaldehyde
By 8.20.07
The New Zealand Ministry of Consumer Affairs is investigating claims made by a New Zealand television program that Chinese-made children’s clothes are contaminated with formaldehyde. The consumer watchdog program tested woolen and cotton clothes after receiving a complaint that a child had suffered an allergic reaction.
By 8.20.07
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Bogus Johnson&Johnson Life ScanOneTouch diabetes test strips traced to Chinese distributors. [NYT]
5 Things To Do To Avoid Lead Poisoning
By 8.20.07
Consumer Reports has five things parents can do to avoid poisoning their children with leadly toys:
By 8.20.07
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Chicago firm suing Chinese company shipping them 11,200 kilos of aspartame artificial sweetener which were found to contain metal shavings. [CBS2Chicago]
The Softer Side Of Lead Paint
By 8.19.07
Foreign manufacturers use lead paint not because they want to poison American children, but because lead paint is, “bright, durable, flexible, fast-drying, and cheap.” The domestic use of lead paint in residences, hospitals, and children’s products was banned in 1978, though lead paint is still widely used. Slate explains:
New York Decries CPSC's Inability To Impose Mandatory Recalls, Announces Initiatives To Combat Lead Poisoning
By 8.18.07
New York Governor Eliot Spitzer is taking action to ensure the prompt removal of recalled products, responding to the CPSC’s unwillingness to ask for, or accept, the authority to impose mandatory recalls. The following proposals do not require approval by the Legislature, and will go into effect immediately:
Mattel CEO's Online Video Apology For Millions Of Toy Recalls
By 8.18.07
Mattel CEO Bob Eckert posted a video apology for the millions of lead-tainted and faulty magnet toys they were forced to recall. In it, he apologizes, has himself and his company take full responsibility for the issue, and outlines specific new steps to insure product quality and step up inspection processes. This is the best corporate apology video we’ve ever seen.
