As more toys are recalled in U.S., the trail ends in China

[deminks]

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/06/19/business/19toys.php

WASHINGTON: China manufactured every one of the 24 kinds of toys recalled for safety reasons in the United States so far this year, including the enormously popular Thomas & Friends wooden train sets, a record that is causing alarm among consumer advocates, parents and regulators.

The latest recall, announced last week, involves 1.5 million Thomas & Friends trains and rail components — about 4 percent of all those sold in the United States over the last two years by RC2 Corporation of Oak Brook, Illinois The toys were coated at a factory in China with lead paint, which can damage brain cells, especially in children.

Just in the last month, a ghoulish fake eyeball toy made in China was recalled after it was found to be filled with kerosene. Sets of toy drums and a toy bear were also recalled because of lead paint, and an infant wrist rattle was recalled because of a choking hazard.

Over all, the number of products made in China that are being recalled in the United States by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has doubled in the last five years, driving the total number of recalls in the country to 467 last year, an annual record.

It also means that China today is responsible for about 60 percent of all product recalls, compared with 36 percent in 2000.

(end snip)

You see, it is not just the cheap plastic dollar stuff, it is also the brand name stuff that is being outsourced for cheap labor. Cheap labor that paints with lead paint, and fills toys with kerosene. So this globalization helps me how?

[Babsbrain]

1. Here's one thing we can do...

Quit buying things made in China.

[BeHereNow]

2. Ya think?

I'm a label checking fool these days...
and PROUD to say, I have NEVER once
been inside a "Brought to you with the help of the Clintons, Walmart."
BHN

[magellan]

3. It lets you and me be happy about buying cheap crap

At least until it kills us or our children.

I'd like to go back to 'Made in Japan', please. At least they didn't try to kill us with their products. And I rather liked the little drink umbrellas.

[Rage for Order]

4. I think China will get a handle on this quickly

They have suffered untold damage to their image of being able to supply inexpensive, safe products. The ruling class knows that in order to keep their economic expansion going they have to have American consumers to buy their products. Problem is, at some point parents will decide the savings are not worth the risk and will avoid anything that says "Made in China". With their authoritarian style of governing, I expect the ruling party to begin coming down HARD on those companies that produce dangerous products for export. Didn't they sentence their agriculture minister to death a couple of weeks ago for the wheat gluten issue? If they don't reign in this problem quickly, things could unravel in a hurry for China.

[charlie]

7. No, not for the wheat issue

For years of graft. I don't know if China's government, ironfisted as it may be, can reign in the export sector anytime soon. It's too big, too corrupt, and much of it too shadowy.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

8. I am not as sanguine as you seem to be.

China, if you look at the problems that exist with their water supply, could be on the verge of a societal meltdown. Things have grown so fast, so quickly, they may be beyond the grasp of the central government to control. You also have to look at their history: the execution of one minister is not a deterrent, just another day for the business community. Sure, if they do experience societal chaos, the PLA could well start killing lots of people. But that is nothing new for the historical Chinese society and they will absorb the blow. There is a lot of potential for ugliness and I suspect there is more simmering under the surface than we are being told.

Also, they have had a lot of years of being inculcated with animosity towards the US. They may well be expressing that residual animosity with these products they are shipping to us.

Just some random thoughts and impressions.

[kurth]

5. "Eyeball toy made in China found to be filled with kerosene"

Lovely. Flammable, too.

[whistle]

6. I have to say that any American distributor and/or wholesaler that

...had distributions rights or negotiated the manufacturing specifications on these toys are equally if not more culpable, because they are the ones who should have known better. For example those Thomas Trains referred to could only be manufactured by license from the patent holder with strict specifications or toys like Disney Stores carry, these are all produced according to rigorous specifications. So those corporate marketers are responsible. Others like Toys'R Us and Babies'R Us etc, same thing. They should never have put those items out for sale without checking

[burrowowl]

9. Craftsman and other used to-be good tools

now made in China are worthless crap! E.g., Chinese made cresent wrench worm gears don't keep jaws in place and more effort is required to open/close them, maybe alright for someone who only uses them twice a year, but working with them daily is a real loss of time and effort.
I see made in China and I saydamn go search for something else, the something else is getting harer to find.

[deminks]

10. Kick once for the light of day.