Mattel, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Fisher-Price, agreed to pay a $2.3 million fine for violating a federal lead paint ban. The fine follows a 2007 recall of millions of Mattel’s popular children toys that contained lead paint levels that violated federal law.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), who announced the fine June 5, 2009, the fine is the third largest of its kind. All the toys involved in the lead paint violation were imported from China.
“This penalty should serve notice to toy makers that CPSC is committed to the safety of children, to reducing their exposure to lead, and to the implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act,” CPSC acting chairman Thomas Moore, said in a statement
Although Mattel agreed to pay the fine, the toy-maker denies knowing they violated the law.
Mattel Toys Recall, 2007
Although Mattel denies allegations of violating the law, there is evidence that in 2007, about 95 Mattel and Fisher-Price toy models exceeded the legal amount of lead – 0.06 percent is allowed in paint and surface coatings. The Chinese-made toys were recalled and pulled off the shelves in August and September 2007.
The contaminated Chinese-made toys received a lot of public attention as consumers were already concerned about other products manufactured in China. Earlier that year, in fact, pet food that was imported from China was found to be contaminated with melamine, which was directly linked to more than 3,500 pet deaths.
Millions of Toys Contaminated with Lead
The defective toys violated a lead ban that was set in place to reduce the risk of lead poisoning in American children. Among the lead-contaminated toys were:
- “Sarge” car from the movie Cars
- Barbie dolls and accessories
- Bongo Band
- GEOTRAX locomotive
- Go Diego Go Rescue Boat toys
Lead Poisoning Health Risks
The federal ban was implemented to protect young children against the dangerous health risks associated with lead poisoning and other toxic chemicals. Lead poisoning is especially dangerous for children. Side effects can include:
- Nervous system and kidney damage
- Learning disabilities and decreased intelligence
- Speech and language problems
- Behavioral changes and problems
- Decreased muscle and bone growth
- Hearing damage
- Seizures
- Unconsciousness
- Death
Has Your Child Been Exposed to Dangerous Levels of Lead?
If your child played with a contaminated toy and has suffered any side effects, you may be eligible to recover compensation. For more information, contact The Killino Firm today.
When you need a lawyer who will exhaustively investigate your case and make sure that every responsible party is held accountable, turn to The Killino Firm, where Keeping America Safe is our goal. Contact an experienced defective product attorney, please call us toll free at 877-875-2927. We will respond promptly to your inquiry so that you can experience The Killino Firm Difference.
