Via Reuters: “Thomas and Friends” railway toys recalled
More than 1 million of the popular “Thomas & Friends” wooden railway toys made in China are being voluntarily recalled because some may contain lead paint, the U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Wednesday.About 1.5 million wooden vehicles, buildings and other train-set parts for young children are being recalled, the CPSC said in a statement. The toys were sold in the United States from January 2005 through June 2007, the statement said.
Lead is toxic and can pose a serious health risk to young children who often put objects in their mouths. Children under 6 are most at risk.
That’s a lot of trains. Indeed, we have purchased some of those toys during the period in question. Thankfully my boys are at the age where they don’t put the trains in their mouths…
On the political front, this is more damaging news for Chinese exports:
The recall of toys made in China follows a series of health scandals in the United States involving food, drugs and other products imported from China, from poisoned cough syrup to tainted toothpaste and pet food.
For all the talk of China becoming an economic superpower, they are going to face a tough road if people are going to start associating “Made in China” with “Made with Poison.”
Sphere: Related Content
June 14th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Chinese Products Unsafe
I sent my wife this Reuters article about a recall on some wooden “Thomas and Friends” toys this morning because the children of some friends of our plays with them. Steven Taylor, though, noted something more within the rubric of the blog…
June 14th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Thankfully my boys are at the age where they don’t put the trains in their mouths…
From what I heard Tuesday I wouldn’t be 100% certain of that. . .
June 15th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
I’m concerned about paint chips getting on hands, and then getting inside the mouth.
But what I can’t figure out is why China even has lead-based paint. I don’t think there’s a cost savings involved. I understood lead-based paint was just really easy to apply. That’s not necessarily cheaper or more expensive. So I don’t know why they would say “we have a choice between making paint X, which is known to be dangerous, and paint Y which isn’t; let’s choose X.”
Unless it’s lead-tainted, but that’s odd too.