Products Recalled For Lead Still Being Sold On The Web

"Barbie, Dora and Elmo are overstaying their welcome.

Like guests who just won't leave, recalled toys -- including some that might contain harmful lead paint -- are lingering on the Internet for sale, a study shows. This is so even though their maker, Mattel MAT, has racked up $40 million in costs and charges this year to get toys deemed dangerous out of children's hands."

Handling This Year's Toy Recall Epidemic

"TOYS ARE FLYING off the shelves this holiday season, but it's not because shoppers are grabbing them up. Instead, a slew of widespread health and safety recalls are responsible for making some of this season's most popular toys scarce.

Just last week, the Consumer Product Safety Commission ordered the recall of 4.2 million sets of Aqua Dots craft sets because a chemical coating on the brightly-colored beads breaks down into the date-rape drug known as GHB when ingested. One of Toy Wishes magazine's "Hot Holiday Dozen," Aqua Dots has caused seizure-like spasms and shallow comas in seven U.S. children. Two days later, another recall urged parents to return some 175,000 Curious George plush toys to the manufacturer, Marvel Toys, because of lead content in the paint on the doll's face and hat."

China takes fun out of it

"Shelves were near empty after Chinese-made Fisher-Price toys were pulled from shelves in a voluntary recall in August.

With the busiest shopping days of the year approaching, consumers no doubt are feeling some angst about buying toys, especially those made in China. They have good reason. Since this summer, there has been a steady beat of recalls involving unsafe toys sold by trusted manufacturers."

China halts export of bead toys tainted with toxic drug

China has suspended exports of the Aqua Dots toys contaminated with a chemical that can convert to a powerful "date rape" drug, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported Saturday. The toys have caused some children who swallowed the craft toys to vomit and lose consciousness.

NOT MADE IN CHINA but another toy recall hits Fisher-Price

EL SEGUNDO – 11/08/07 – Already reeling from a tsunami of image-damaging product recalls, global toy-making giant Mattel Inc. has issued yet another one, this time for “safety concerns” over about 172,000 products manufactured in Mexico and sold in the US and the European Union (EU).

Curious George recall issued by Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment Inc has issued a voluntary recall on almost 200,000 Curious George dolls. The toy company says the plush dolls contained too much lead in their surface paint.

The Curious George dolls were sold form 2005 to 2007 in stores nationwide. The dolls were sold in five different models all with a plastic face. They came with an activity book.

Spain joins Bindeez toy recall

Spanish authorities have ordered two Chinese-made toy kits to be recalled, following the lead of the Australia and the US, the Health Ministry says.

The National Consumers Institute is recalling Aqua Dots, distributed by Spin Master, and a similar toy Bindeez, because they could be dangerous, the ministry said. It did not say how many toys were affected by the recall.

Millions of toys recalled; contain 'date rape' drug

"Millions of Chinese-made toys for children have been pulled from shelves in North America and Australia after scientists found they contain a chemical that converts into a powerful "date rape" drug when ingested.

Two children in the U.S. and three in Australia were hospitalized after swallowing the beads."

Edwards Details Plan to Stop Dangerous Imports from Entering America

"Today, Senator John Edwards detailed his latest proposals for protecting children and families from unsafe imports at forum with students at a middle school in Amherst, New Hampshire. Edwards unveiled his plans for protecting Americans from dangerous toys, strengthening food safety, ensuring that drug imports are safe, and taking on special interests to put Washington back on the side of regular families."

Tips on Buying Safe Holiday Toys

"This holiday season, after various large-scale recalls, parents may understandably be jittery about buying toys. But a little research and a large dose of common sense - rather than a boycott of toys from China - can help shoppers make wise decisions, experts say."

Australia bans China-made toy after children fall ill | Health | Reuters

"Australia announced a nationwide ban on Wednesday on a Chinese-made toy which investigations showed contained a chemical which metabolizes into a "date rape" style drug when swallowed.

The ban across Australia's six states and two territories came after three children became severely ill after they swallowed the toy beads called "Bindeez."