I was shocked when I read about Mattel recalling its three made-in-China Fisher-Price toys because of excessive amounts of lead. Among those recalled are my kid’s favorite toys like Barney Best Manner Phone, Sing N Play Alphabook and Sesame Street Giggle Surprise Giggle. I was felling very uncomfortable with the news and immediately called home. First instruction was to stop my kid from getting near to any Barney or Sesame Street. Only Barbies allowed until dad comes home.
Before I could go home to check on the toys, I read in CNN.com that the owner of the factory in China, Lee Der Industrial Co, had committed suicide due to the possibility of financial disaster coming his way. To me, this was really a very bad indicator that the level of lead could be very high that this guy was not prepared to face the music. A few days earlier, China has already sentenced the head of State Food and Drug Administration to death for convicted corruption.
Sharp on the dot, I left office and drove quickly to reache home in the fastest possible time. Immediately, I checked her Barney and Sesame Street toys. Luckily none of them were among those recalled. Finally, I was relieved and could take a much needed rest.
3 responses so far ↓
1 FrenchMalaysia // Aug 17, 2007 at 10:17 am
Thanks for dropping by on my frenchmalaysia blog, the tips you mention you will use are for your kids I presume?
Another bad propaganda for China is we seem to forget that Mattels ‘ CEO is BOB Eckert and just put a plant of his Mattel in China to exploit cheap labour and make more money, not even doing a proper check on used materials. Sad that he doesn’t hang himself. I have no respect for such people either.
And in the end its our kids that suffer or could have suffered the most. Not to mention how they will suffer from polluted air because again some big firms want to make toys without keeping the environment in mind.
2 wuching // Aug 18, 2007 at 7:51 pm
lucky my star wars figurines are ok
3 leslie // Aug 19, 2007 at 11:05 am
FrenchMalaysia, This is a really bad publicity for China. One small incident is going to tarnish their image. Lot’s of PR effort is going to be done esp with Olympics around the corner.
Wuching, Good to know both of us like the same stuff. I got a darth vader’s head in my study room :)
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