SpongeBob Products Latest Chinese Recall

More Toys Recalled Because Of Lead Hazard; China Says Improved Standards Are To Blame

(CBS/AP)  Gao said Mattel should also share the responsibility in the latest recall because it did not conduct "strict examinations" when it received toy shipments.

But, he said, China was taking the quality issue seriously.

"Even if there is only 1 percent of products that have quality problems, we will seek to establish the facts and take them very seriously and investigate and punish those companies involved," he said.

In the latest recall actions, the Ohio-based Martin Designs Inc. notified the Consumer Product Safety Commission that tests of the metal spiral bindings of its SpongeBob products turned up lead content above the level considered safe for children, the agency said Wednesday. Under regulations, children's products found to have more than .06 percent lead accessible to users are subject to a recall.

The books and journals were sold in retail stores nationwide from June 2006 through July 2007. They have a black metal spiral binding and depict the SpongeBob SquarePants character in various outfits on the front cover, and have UPC codes 80773007505; 80773002260; 80773075501; and 80773007551. Consumers should dispose of the product and return the UPC code for a full refund to Martin Designs, Attention: Product Recall, 605 Westlake Dr., Ashland OH 44805. For more information, consumers can call the company at [phone] or visit www.martindesigns-ltd.com or www.cpsc.gov.

For information concerning the Thomas & Friends and Curious George toys imported by Schylling Associates, call [phone]; on the Web, www.schylling.com or www.cpsc.gov.

The recalled "Toby & Me" sets, in a pink gift box with "TOBY & ME" printed on the front, were sold at T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and A.J. Wright stores. Consumers should contact TOBY N.Y.C. for information on receiving a refund or replacement item. Details: [phone]; www.cpsc.gov.

The recalled Children Divine Inspiration bracelets have silver-colored charms and clear and pink beads that hang from a silver-colored chain. Dollar stores and other small retail stores nationwide sold the product. Consumers should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund or contact Buy-Rite for information on how to receive a refund. Details: [phone], ext. 175; www.buyriteinc.com or www.cpsc.gov.

Other recalls announced Wednesday include carrots labeled "genuine sweet baby carrots" which may be contaminated with the shigella bacteria that could cause diarrhea, nausea, fever and vomiting, the California-based Los Angeles Salad Company announced.

The product was sold under two labels: "Los Angeles Salad Genuine Sweet Baby Carrots" with a "sell-by-date" up to and including Aug. 16, 2007, and "Trader Joe's Genuine Sweet Baby Carrots" with a "sell-by-date" up to and including Aug. 8, 2007. For details call the company at [phone].

An undisclosed number of 5-pound bags of Krasdale Gravy dry dog food, from Mars Petcare US Inc., were recalled because of potential Salmonella contamination that could infect pets and people who come into contact with the product. The dog food with UPC Code 7513062596 and best by dates of July 16 and 17, 2008, was sold in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Details: Contact Mars Petcare at [phone] or www.marspetcare.com.

[erasmus6]

TimanTane

The first recall of the toys was around 1 million. This recall was more than 900,000.

We have had children''s jewelry recalls before and I told my husband then that you can bet that there is lead in probably everything that is made in China.

I was looking for beads one day and on the package it said: "Not recommended for anyone under the age of 15". 15? You might see for "age 3 and under" because of choking hazard, but 15?? I knew right then it was because it probably contained LEAD.

We have a lot of stuff from China but I don''t know if it is as much as you guys. From some of the posts I read here, people seem to have a problem buying anything U.S. made. Here we do have a lot of things still made in Canada. Also I don''t think that we have as much "ingredients" that come from China that go into our food. We also didn''t have as much tainted pet food. I know they said it came from a Canadian company but the actual contaminated ingredients came through an American company. And do you know what TICKED ME OFF?! It was the fact that the U.S didn''t hesitate to blab to the whole world over and over that it was a Canadian company that made the pet food but when it came out that the ingredients came through an American company they wouldn''t release the NAME!! Now is that fair?? Hmmm??:)

We need to start making all our own stuff and stop depending on other countries, before they kill us. It might cost more but better to be alive than DEAD.:)

[timantane]

erasmus6

An excellent one. You have very good arguments.

What''s your take on these low-quality Chinese toys? Are these going into Canada also? I would guess so.

[erasmus6]

TimanTane

I would make a good ant-gun lobbiest, don''t you think?:)

[timantane]

erasmus6

I thought the only lead you were against came out of guns. Nice to see you have other concerns also.

I was starting to think you worked for the anti-gun lobbiests ;)

[erasmus6]

I have started going through all the products at home here and writing down all the email addresses and phone numbers and on Monday I am going to start phoning them and asking if there are any ingredients or anything in them that comes from China. If they cannot give me an answer I will be telling them I will not buy their product again until they can give me that answer. And before I buy a new product I will take down the phone number and phone first.

[nexgen99]

The Financial Times reported dangerous levels of formaldehyde poisons in imported children clothing made in China which is making children sick. The clothing is being recalled. So don%u2019t think clothes made in China are safe, you have no idea what chemicals are in the dyes.

[oleander8]

In the meantime tell your children not to chew on the spines of their address books....

[jetauma]

Let it start here. It''ll be difficult. But let us all strive to by American Made as much as possible. Pay a few cents more...maybe a few dollars. We''ll help ourselves, our industries, improve wages, create new jobs, secure our cheldren''s future...and defeat those greedy corporate and political buggers who long ago sold their souls and are trying to by ours at Wal-Mart.
Speaking of Wal-Mart...boycott has a nice ring to it.

[walt1944-2009]

The Great Emperor Bush has decided to have anything made in China recalled and the trash sent back to them. This would mean that everything, including the clothing people wear would be boxed up and sent back to China where the items will be then resold to the Chinese public as "NEW", thus increasing the already enormous profits of American companies in China and creating more wealth for the right-wing elite.

Of course, when confronted by the economic chaos this would cause in the USSA, with the economy reverting back to "prehistoric caveman levels", the Emperor claimed it was all part of his grand scheme to create 2 classes in this country, the "Haves" and "Have Nots" and rebuild the economy of the new USSA starting at the beginning.

With this in mind, the Emperor has ordered the mint to begin collecting rock and pebbles and engrave on them HIS image for use by the "low class". The new currency for the poor class will be called "BUSHIES"!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!

Where is the US Consumer Protection Agency in all of this???? WHO IS PROTECTING THE AMERICAN CITIZEN AND THEIR CHILDREN??? And, why aren''t we being told what will befall our children who have been exposed!!!! Maybe there are some remedies for lead paint exposure that we ought to know about.

US CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY, Please tell the American people what they should know about lead paint exposure to children!! The truth is that children who are exposed to lead paint are at risk of becoming mentally retarded. WHO ARE YOU PROTECTING???? The American people or CHINESE TRADE.

[toshi43]

Cheap, safe and high quality Chinese products, that''s what we want, and we don''t give a *** who''s hurt or exploited in the process, AS LONG AS IT''S NOT US!!

If you''re one of the few that actually cares about the truth behind the products we so mindlessly buy every day, check out ChinaLaborWatch.org.

[sodela1]

It is time that U.S. companies start caring more about their citizens than their pocket books and their all important numbers at the stock market. Take care on the people that buy their products. There has been way too many recalls just this year alone. How many recalls has Wal Mart had? Come on big U.S companies take care of your own and come back to the U.S. before our kids start with the defects and the cancers that these contaminets can cause. WAKE UP AMERICA!

[erasmus6]

Actually I think we should be concerned about things being made with lead in it from the U.S. and Canada also. In Canada it is illegal to have lead in anything. But my daughter worked for this person that made ceramics and this person used to travel across the border into the U.S. to get her glazes. The reason she did so was because in the U.S. they had a lot brighter colors than we do and the reason was because they contained LEAD. So obviously the U.S. is also making things with lead in it.

[a_mom]

This article is a bit misleading...it is NOT true that lead paint standards changed between 2006 and 2007. There is no reason the Chinese vendors should have used these unacceptable levels of lead in these various toys and school supplies. What Minister Hucheng is referring to above is a change by ASTM International in the voluntary standards for magnetic toys. The rules governing magnets were published in May. But even if it wasn''t actually illegal before then to make toys where the magnets are not reliably contained, it only makes sense. The CPSC could actually have been more vigilant and recalled dozens of these models on their own much earlier under the GENERAL rule that toys should not present an unexpected hazard in the home. Or Mattel could have simply withdrawn all their Polly Pocket toys that had the same magnet design, last year when they were forced into a smaller recall. Now, almost a year later, there are 18.2 million of these Mattel magnetic toys in homes worldwide and it will be difficult to have 100% of them returned. http://magnetscankill.spaces.live.com has tons more info and pics

You can call Mattel to get the process started immediately at:

Magnet hazard recall hotline: [phone]

"CARS" Sarge character diecast vehicle recall hotline: [phone]

Fisher-Price toys lead paint recall hotline: [phone]

[nvme3]

Wake up America. Take a dump in a box and send it to china; that is what they are doing to us. Buy back our debt and force the companies to manufacture here where we can have stricter controls over what is going into our homes. the latest wave of recalls is just the icebergs tip. If we produce nothing then eventually we will be a 2nd and 3rd tier economy. How many times do we have to get hit by a bus to realize we need to stop going down that road?

[nvme3]

Wake up America. Take a dump in a box and send it to china; that is what they are doing to us. Buy back our debt and force the companies to manufacture here where we can have stricter controls over what is going into our homes. the latest wave of recalls is just the icebergs tip. If we produce nothing then eventually we will be a 2nd and 3rd tier economy. How many times do we have to get hit by a bus to realize we need to stop going down that road?

[nvme3]

Wake up America. Take a dump in a box and send it to china; that is what they are doing to us. Buy back our debt and force the companies to manufacture here where we can have stricter controls over what is going into our homes. the latest wave of recalls is just the icebergs tip. If we produce nothing then eventually we will be a 2nd and 3rd tier economy. How many times do we have to get hit by a bus to realize we need to stop going down that road?

[nvme3]

Wake up America. Take a dump in a box and send it to china; that is what they are doing to us. Buy back our debt and force the companies to manufacture here where we can have stricter controls over what is going into our homes. the latest wave of recalls is just the icebergs tip. If we produce nothing then eventually we will be a 2nd and 3rd tier economy. How many times do we have to get hit by a bus to realize we need to stop going down that road?

[nvme3]

Wake up America. Take a dump in a box and send it to china; that is what they are doing to us. Buy back our debt and force the companies to manufacture here where we can have stricter controls over what is going into our homes. the latest wave of recalls is just the icebergs tip. If we produce nothing then eventually we will be a 2nd and 3rd tier economy. How many times do we have to get hit by a bus to realize we need to stop going down that road?