Neither rain nor recalls ... can keep Santa Pelco from its appointed joyful toy rounds Dec 14, 2007
Mattel followed in August with a series of recalls of more than 2 million toy cars, trains, shape-sorters and Barbie doll accessories. Wholesalers sent Duffield pictures of safe toys she could buy, but supplies were skimpy. (Fresno Bee -- Local)
Rowling Book Fetches Nearly $4 Million Dec 14, 2007
Bonhams on Monday will hold a huge, 1,417-lot Christmas sale featuring toy cars, trains, soldiers, dolls, puppets and teddy bears at its U.K. showrooms at Knowle on the outskirts of Birmingham. "Toys for boys," including trains, cars and soldiers, are selling especially well now, with exceptional pieces going for 200 to 1,500, says Leigh Gotch, Bonhams toy department director. (Wall Street Journal)
The Rodriguez Great Pre-Christmas Clearance Dec 14, 2007
At my mom's house, the kids have only a play kitchen, about 15 books, some toy cars, some baby toys and an old Little People house with figures. My kids play intently for hours over there. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
UPDATE 1-Dollar Tree recalls 300000 toys due to lead paint Dec 14, 2007
WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Dollar Tree Stores Inc (DLTR.O: , , ) recalled 300,000 baby bead toys and toy cars made in China because they contain excessive levels of lead, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Thursday. The recalled baby toy has colored beads that slide on a wooden platform, while the recalled Speed Racer Pull Back rs are yellow with black stripes and white with red stripes, the government agency said in a statement. (Reuters)
Santa will be taking their toys to A Friend's Place Dec 9, 2007
The toys ranged from inexpensive toy cars to Barbie dolls. Others purchased one item or two for the toy drive and volunteers were just as happy. (Park Hills Daily Journal, MO)
Vintage childhood amusements entertaining new generations Dec 9, 2007
But that interest faded away within months and the value of lunchboxes and toy cars festooned with Bo and Luke Duke images diminished along with it. For those with an interest in reaping a financial windfall in vintage toys, research is the key. (Conroe Courier, TX)
Editorial: Vote Yes for ICC school repairs Dec 8, 2007
Sounds like China WE USED LOOK at toddlers taste-testing toy cars and doll furniture as a charming phase. Now it alarms us because of what we know about the lead in paint on toys made in China. (Hillsdale Independent, NY)
Attorney general candidate proposes state toy safety law Dec 7, 2007
She said one package of toy cars had been purchased at a Jefferson City store a week after its manufacturer had recalled it for having lead-based paint. She said her bill was modeled on an Illinois law and written with the help of a national, product-safety advocacy group called Kids In Danger. (Jefferson City News Tribune, MO)
Helping hands Dec 5, 2007
In previous years, the woodshop classes have made toy cars, trucks and airplanes and have averaged close to 600 toys a year, Goulasarian said. Goulasarian said that due to Michigan's current economy, two vendors who usually provide support were unable to do so this year. (The News-Herald)
Local artisans pull together for local charity program Dec 3, 2007
The cradles, adorned with 60 different designs, sat ready for delivery while final touches like door detailing and windows added to the creativity of each of the toy cars. Martin (Lutz) brought the idea to our group. (Montrose Daily Press, CO)
Shoppers being extra careful when considering toys for gifts Nov 25, 2007
"It's a real big (concern). I have a grandson that puts everything in his mouth," said Hanford resident Francine Shaw as she looked over dozens of toy cars. Shaw was looking for small parts that might come off. (Hanford Sentinal, CA)
Where are your toys from? Nov 24, 2007
And they re all toys kids want like toy cars and Thomas the Tank. Many shoppers interviewed for this story said recalls aren t the only thing affecting their shopping habits. (Muscatine Journal, IO)
EU Will Not Ban China Toys for Now Nov 23, 2007
Concerns over toy safety remain high after the U.S. company Mattel Inc. ordered recalls this year of more than 21 million Chinese-made toys, including Barbie doll accessories and toy cars, because of concerns about lead paint and tiny magnets that could be swallowed. The company's own tests found lead levels in paint on recalled toys as high as 200 times the accepted safety ceiling. (Newsmax)
Calif. sues Mattel, others over toys containing lead Nov 21, 2007
Mattel followed in August with a series of recalls of more than 2 million toy cars, trains, shape-sorters and Barbie doll accessories. Its Fisher-Price unit also pulled Sesame Street-themed products from a line of infant and preschool toys. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- World)
Arizona officials urge parents to be cautious Nov 21, 2007
The Matchbox police car and several similar toy cars that can be viewed on the PIRG Web site, toysafety. net, pose a threat because parts can come off and choke a small child, officials said. (AZCentral -- Business)
California sues firms over lead-tainted toys Nov 20, 2007
It follows a series of nationwide toy recalls this year which have seen tens of millions of largely Chinese-made products, including Barbie doll accessories, toy cars, trains and infant toys withdrawn from stores. "Companies must take every reasonable step to assure that the products they handle are safe for children and their families and fully comply with the laws of California," Brown said. (Yahoo! Asia News)
Season 2 Give Nov 13, 2007
Toys (Stuffed animals, action figures, toy cars, dolls and others). Sporting Goods (Baseball gloves, basketballs, footballs, and soccer balls). (Click2Houston, TX)
China halts exports of suspected toxic toy beads Nov 10, 2007
The US further recalled nearly 400,000 other toys, including toy cars, which were made in China and had surface paint containing excessive levels of lead. No injuries were reported among the lead paint recalls. (Yahoo News -- Top Stories)
Australian company says it is investigating toxic toy after fourth child hospitalized Nov 9, 2007
Products including Barbie doll accessories and toy cars had lead paint or tiny detachable magnets that could be swallowed. Both 1,4-butanediol and 1,5-pentanediol are manufactured in China and elsewhere, including by major multinational companies, and are also marketed over the Internet. (International Herald Tribune)
More Than 405,000 Toys Recalled Due to Lead Paint Contamination Nov 9, 2007
More than 405,000 children's products made in China, most of them toy cars, were recalled Wednesday for containing dangerous levels of lead, a government safety group announced. The recall includes about 380,000 imported by Dollar General Merchandising Inc. of Goodlettsville, Tenn. (KLAS-TV.com, NV)
China-made toys recalled again Nov 8, 2007
Meanwhile, a separate recall was announced for 405,000 children's products made in China, mostly toy cars, because of dangerous levels of lead. The recall includes about 380,000 Pull-Back Action Toy Cars and 7,500 Dragster and Funny Car toys. (NDTV.com)
'Date rape drug' China toy recalled Nov 8, 2007
Lead poisoning: Dizzy Ducks music boxes, Winnie-the-Pooh spinning tops, Big Red wagons, Dragster and Funny Car and Duck Family wind-up toys, Pull-Back Action Toy Cars ... Also on Wednesday, the CPSC issued recalls for about 403,000 toys with paint containing excessive levels of lead, including 380,000 Pull-Back Action Toy Cars. (Aljazeera.Net)
List of lead-contaminated toys recalled Nov 8, 2007
-About 380,000 Pull-Back Action Toy Cars, imported by Dollar General Merchandising Inc. of Goodlettsville, Tenn. The cars were sold at Dollar General stores from April through October. (Herald Online, SC -- Health)
Toys Recalled Beacause of Lead Nov 8, 2007
They include about 380,000 pull-back action toy cars imported by Dollar General. There have been no reports of illness linked to the toys. (R News)
Pediatricians group urges autism screening for all toddlers by age 2 Nov 6, 2007
Just because a child likes to line up toy cars or has temper tantrums "doesn't mean you need to have concern, if they're also interacting socially and also pretending with toys and communicating well," said co-author Dr. Scott Myers, a neurodevelopmental pediatrician in Danville, Pa. Another educational tool, a Web site that debuted in mid-October, offers dozens of video clips of autistic kids contrasted with unaffected children's behavior. (Orangeburg Times and Democrat, SC)
Simple toys can be learning tools Nov 5, 2007
For example, my older child loves to match and sort things such as coins or small toy cars. This can keep him busy for a long time, and I feel like he is definitely learning from it, too. (AZCentral -- News)
U.S.: doctors urge two autism tests by age 2 Oct 31, 2007
Just because a child likes to line up toy cars or has temper tantrums "doesn't mean you need to have concern, if they're also interacting socially and also pretending with toys and communicating well," said co-author Dr. Scott Myers, a neurodevelopmental pediatrician in Danville, Pennsylvania. (Agencies). (Xinhuanet, China)
China's quality troubles give toymakers an opportunity to target China itself Oct 19, 2007
Tomy Co., a Japanese maker of toy cars and Barbie-lookalike Licca-chan dolls, had its own China episode: In August, it announced it was recalling Chinese-made toy cars it markets and sells for Mattel in Japan after excess lead was found in the paint. But after years of contending with rivals that undercut its business by selling counterfeit, inferior versions of its toys, the company is finally seeing stricter enforcement of standards its own manufacturers have been meeting all along, said John... (International Herald Tribune)
China defends quality of products Oct 19, 2007
The products pulled off shelves included Barbie doll accessories and toy cars because of concerns about lead paint or tiny magnets that could be swallowed. While hundreds of thousands of the toys were decorated with lead paint, Mattel also acknowledged design flaws and apologized. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- World)
Mattel Feels Financial Pinch of Recalls Oct 16, 2007
Later in August, Mattel recalled 250,000 toy cars from the movie "Cars" believed to contain dangerous levels of lead paint. Four other toys, totaling 18. (SmartMoney)
China sponsors quality-control training in its toy industry Oct 15, 2007
The toys pulled off shelves in the Mattel recall included Barbie doll accessories and toy cars because of concerns about lead paint or tiny magnets that could be swallowed. While hundreds of thousands of the toys were decorated with lead paint, Mattel also acknowledged design flaws and apologized. (International Herald Tribune -- Business Asia)
Palm Bay considers ban on China goods Oct 4, 2007
Last month, several Mattel toys were recalled after it was discovered that lead paint was used on toy cars and that action figures and some dolls contained small magnets that could be swallowed. Wal-Mart pulled Chinese-made binders and pet products from their shelves because of safety concerns. (Florida Today)
47 tons of U.S. sardines rejected Oct 3, 2007
Mattel ordered three high-profile recalls this summer involving more than 21 million Chinese-made toys, including Barbie doll accessories and toy cars because of concerns about lead paint or tiny magnets that could be swallowed. The slew of Chinese-made toys since June by Mattel and other smaller toy makers has resulted in many parents scouring for U.S.-made label stamped on playthings at toy stores. (AZCentral -- Business)
Mattel to China: Sorry for Recalls Sep 24, 2007
Mattel ordered three high-profile recalls this summer involving more than 21 million Chinese-made toys, including Barbie doll accessories and toy cars because of concerns about lead paint or tiny magnets that could be swallowed. The recalls have prompted complaints from China that manufacturers were being blamed for design faults introduced by Mattel. (SmartMoney)
Mattel Apologizes To China For Toy Recalls Sep 24, 2007
Mattel ordered three high-profile recalls this summer involving more than 21 million Chinese-made toys, including Barbie doll accessories and toy cars because of concerns about lead paint and tiny magnets that could be swallowed. A list of recalled toys can be found at. (CBS2Chicago.com, IL)
Why Mattel ApologizedAnalysis: The company admits that most of its toy recalls were due to its own design flaws, not Chinese manufacturers. Lesson: Mattel needs China as much as China needs Mattel. Sep 23, 2007
In August, after the company announced its recalls of several toys because they were made using lead paint, reporters grilled Mattel CEO Bob Eckert about how lead paint, which is banned for use on children's toys in the U.S., ended up on its "Sarge" toy cars. Surprisingly, he had answers. (Time.com)
Mattel says sorry to China about toy recalls Sep 22, 2007
Barbie doll accessories and toy cars were among the items on the list of products recalled over concerns about lead paint and tiny magnets that could be swallowed. Chinese sub-contractors received the majority of the criticism over the recalls, and several firms were fired. (CTV.ca)
Mattel executive apologizes to China over recall of toys Sep 22, 2007
Mattel ordered three high-profile recalls this summer involving more than 21 million Chinese-made toys, including Barbie doll accessories and toy cars because of concerns about lead paint or tiny magnets that could be swallowed. Yesterday, Debrowski acknowledged that the "vast majority of those products recalled were the result of a design flaw in Mattel's design, not through a manufacturing flaw in China's manufacturers.". (Boston Globe -- Business)
U.S. toy giant Mattel apologizes to China over worldwide recall of Chinese-made toys Sep 21, 2007
Mattel ordered three high-profile recalls this summer of millions of Chinese-made toys including Barbie doll accessories and toy cars because of concerns about lead paint and tiny magnets that could be swallowed. The "vast majority of those products that were recalled were the result of a design flaw in Mattel's design, not through a manufacturing flaw in China's manufacturers,'' Debrowski said. Lead-tainted toys accounted for only a small percentage of all toys recalled, he said, adding that:... (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
* Europe's toymakers find advantages at home Sep 20, 2007
With parents fretting about the safety hazards of toy cars and trains and Barbie accessories, the not-made-in-China label could prove to be a boon to European toy makers, particularly in their domestic markets, where the corner toy store has not yet been elbowed out by retailing giants like Wal-Mart or Toys "R" Us. "A lot of the sales still rely on the expertise of the guy whom I call Fritz," said Sean McGowan, a toy industry analyst at Wedbush Morgan Securities in New York. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Business)
Europe's toymakers well-positioned amid scares over Chinese-made toys Sep 18, 2007
With parents fretting about the health hazards of toy cars and tank engines, the not-made-in-China label could prove to be nice bonus for these European toymakers, especially in Europe, where the corner toy store has not yet been elbowed out by retail giants like Wal-Mart or Toys "R" Us. Today in Business. (International Herald Tribune)
Toy soldiers: Retailers get vigilant about safety Sep 18, 2007
Among the millions of recalled toys are Barbie playsets, toy cars featuring the character "Sarge" from the children's movie "Cars" and Fisher-Price items featuring characters including Dora the Explorer, Elmo and Ernie. To learn more about the recalls or affected products, visit Mattel's Web site, For information about toy recalls, go to the Web site of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. (News & Observer)
Shooting of boy cautionary tale for gun owners Sep 17, 2007
Parents and children alike should learn a lesson from an accidental shooting Saturday afternoon that left a 9-year-old boy injured, says a state trooper who investigated the incident. For children, guns are not toys. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Three sure-fire methods for getting kids to clean up their toys Sep 16, 2007
They pull everything out; toy cars and planes, stuffed animals, blankets to make tents, and so on, but they won't pick up and put anything away unless their father or I stand over them. What now. (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier)
After Christmas Sep 15, 2007
Workers assemble toy cars at the Dongguan Da Lang Wealthwise Plastic Factory in China recently. Cheap Chinese toys fueled U.S. discount wars. (Orlando Sentinel)
Toy testing costs wont affect holidays Sep 14, 2007
Workers assemble toy cars at the production line of Dongguan Da Lang Wealthwise Plastic Factory in Dongguan, China. Americans have enjoyed cheap goods from China, but that may soon be ending due to the added cost of safety testing or making goods domestically. (MSNBC -- Business)
Cost of toys to increase 10 percent Sep 14, 2007
Workers assemble toy cars at the production line of Dongguan Da Lang Wealthwise Plastic Factory in Dongguan, China, in this file photo. Soon, American consumers are going to have to bear the cost of safer toys. (AZCentral -- Business)
Unleaded toy cars will cost more Sep 14, 2007
Shoppers can expect price increases up to 10 percent next year to pay for increased vigilance by toy makers and stores after more than 3 million lead-tainted toys from China were recalled worldwide since June. 99 Barbie doll could go up to about $7. (Scranton Times, PA)
U.S. and China agree on toy safety measures Sep 12, 2007
Mattel, the largest American toy company, has issued three product recalls this summer for Chinese-made toys, removing millions of units of Barbie doll accessories, toy cars and other products because of unsafe levels of lead or magnets that too easily detach. Nord and her Chinese counterpart, Wei Chuanzhong, also agreed to improve safety standards of electrical goods, cigarette lighters and fireworks, they said at a news conference. (International Herald Tribune -- Business)
China to halt use of lead paint on toys Sep 12, 2007
Workers assemble toy cars at the production line of Dongguan Da Lang Wealthwise Plastic Factory in Dongguan, China Tuesday Sept. 4, 2007. Stung by global recalls, China opened a toy-testing lab to foreign media Tuesday, showing off workers in white lab coats scraping paint off plastic toys and twisting the legs and arms of action-figure dolls. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
China vows to crack down on lead in toys sent to US Sep 12, 2007
A vendor stands near toy cars in a department store in Beijing. China agreed yesterday to increase inspections at Chinese factories after massive recalls of Chinese-made toys. (Boston Globe)
Disney to test toys based on its characters Sep 11, 2007
On Aug. 14, Mattel had to recall 436,000 small toy cars based on the character Sarge from the movie "Cars," because they contained lead paint. Mattel recalled more than a half-million more toys last week. (International Herald Tribune -- Business)
Disney to test toys for lead paint Sep 11, 2007
On August 14, Mattel had to recall 436,000 small toy cars based on the character Sarge from the movie Cars, because they contained lead paint. Mattel recalled more than a half million more toys last week. (Monsters and Critics.com)
Illinois health director warns of toys with lead paintSPRINGFIELD - Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, Illinois Department of Public Health Director, is warning parents to watch out for possible lead paint on their children’s toys after numerous manufactures, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), recently issued voluntary recalls for children’s toys and jewelry, all manufactured in China, due to lead paint. In many cases, surface paints on these recalled items contain excessive levels of lead which is prohibited under federal law. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause serious health problems. Sep 8, 2007
-- Mattel Inc. Sarge die cast toy cars. -- Fisher-Price Inc. Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, and other children s toys. (Canton Daily Ledger, IL)
Mattel announces third Chinese toy recall Sep 5, 2007
The recalled toys included Pixar Sarge die-cast toy cars and Sesame Street and Fisher Price toys. Earlier on Tuesday, the CPSC disagreed with Eckert, who told the Wall Street Journal that the company preferred initially to investigate reports of dangerous toys without informing the agency. (Yahoo News -- Top Stories)
CCPHC offers new lead poisoning prevention services Aug 31, 2007
The CCPHC is also alerting parents to a recent recall issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission involving Mattel's arge die cast toy cars and for Fisher-Price involving 83 different toys with product names including Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer and others. ur employees have found several toys in this list that affect our families, said Weimholt. (Boonville Daily News, MO)
Miniature cars nothing to toy with in Daytona traffic court Aug 28, 2007
Cino and another traffic court hearing officer in the county Administration Building on Beach Street keep a drawer full of toy cars for a dose of low-tech accident reconstruction ... Cino, who is also the attorney for the city of Flagler Beach and other local entities, said toy cars were often given away at seminars for traffic court officials ... Toy cars placed on diagrams are used in Oklahoma and other states. (Daytona Beach News Journal)
If not toys, it's something else for parents to fear Aug 28, 2007
hether it would be sexual predators or abductions or lead-based paint in toy cars it just seems like there is always one other mounting thing, said Greg Swanson, 41, of Davenport, Iowa, and father of four boys ages 2 to 8. ou would think that we would evolve as a society where things would become less of a problem, but they become more of a problem with each passing day with kids. (Auburn Citizen, NY)
Recalls prompt buyer backlash Aug 27, 2007
Mattel Inc. recently recalled more than 9 million Chinese-made toys, including Barbie, Batman and Polly Pocket products because they include magnets that can be deadly if swallowed, along with Sarge toy cars that contain lead paint. Earlier this month, Mattel recalled 1. (Scranton Times, PA)
Lead paint recalls worry parents Aug 26, 2007
In the past three weeks alone, some major recalls included 250,000 SpongeBob address books and journals, 66,000 Thomas and Friends spinning tops, 250,000 Sarge die cast toy cars and nearly 1 million Nickelodeon and Sesame Street character toys sold under Mattel's Fisher Price label. Many parents understandably are shaken. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Terry Goddard's office providing toy recall information on Web site Aug 25, 2007
"Sarge" Die Cast Toy Cars (Mattel, Inc.). Recalled due to violation of Lead Safety Standard. (Douglas Daily Dispatch, AZ)
‘Toying’ with danger; local retailers remove toys Aug 25, 2007
In the United States, Mattel has recalled 265,000 toy cars due to lead paint concerns and more than 9. 3 million toys, such as Polly Pocket and Barbie, with tiny magnets that could be swallowed by children. (Newport Daily Independent, AR)
China says export boom shows goods still welcome Aug 23, 2007
That followed Mattel Inc's recalls of millions of toys -- including 436,000 die-cast toy cars because their paint may have contained too much lead. Vice Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng also said some foreign media reports had grossly exaggerated China's quality problems, but he acknowledged the concerns were shared by the country's own citizens. (Yahoo News -- Top Stories)
More Chinese items recalled Aug 23, 2007
The latest round of recalls involving Chinese goods comes amid heightened scrutiny of Chinese exports following recall of millions of toys last week -- including 436,000 die-cast toy cars because the paint may have contained too much lead. Chinese officials have been quick to say that the vast majority of China's goods meet quality standards despite concerns over the safety of its food, drugs, tires, and toothpaste exports. (Boston Globe)
Group says China toy factory conditions ‘brutal' Aug 22, 2007
The report comes as Chinese exports are under growing scrutiny abroad over safety concerns a week after Mattel Inc. recalled millions of toys, including 436,000 die-cast toy cars from its Cars line, because they may contain excessive amounts of lead. Related Articles. (Globe and Mail -- Technology)
