Boycott Mattel

Mattel CEO Robert Eckert made the rounds of morning news shows after the first major Mattel recall of the summer basically saying “mistakes were made,” and clearly consumers were not going to hold a little lead paint against him.  Mattel’s stock (MAT) barely reacted.  (Note the major cultural difference between Eckert’s very typical American publicly-repent-and-all-shall-be-forgiven PR tactic […]

Popularity: 100% [?]

Get the Lead Out

Dangerous levels of lead have been discovered in vinyl baby bibs — first by an Illinois grandmother and then by the Center for Environmental Health, which found levels as high as three times the allowed amount.  The New York Times also hired a laboratory to conduct tests which yielded similar results.  According to the article, the CPSC had the following […]

Popularity: 64% [?]

Can Mattel Lead the Way to Safety?

Mattel is recalling some 19 million additional toys, some due to lead contamination and most because of dangerous magnets.   Again, experts in the industry note that Mattel sets the gold standard for safety in toy production…so what does that mean for everyone else?  According to the New York Times:
“If I went down the shelves of Wal-Mart and […]

Popularity: 67% [?]

Mattel’s Image Tarnished by Lead Paint

Just days after the New York Times ran a story about Mattel, the world’s largest toy company, setting the “gold standard” for manufacturing in China, Mattel announced the recall of nearly a million toys due to the presence of lead paint.  The recall included 83 different products made under the Fisher-Price name and based on popular Sesame Street […]

Popularity: 66% [?]

You Get What You Pay For

In the midst of a slew of stories of product recalls and dangerous goods coming from China, USA Today reports that China’s trade surplus is at an all time high.  The imports are pouring in faster than ever and the safety checks are not keeping pace, yet we continue to buy.  And the reason, naturally, is […]

Popularity: 36% [?]

Got Lead?

Many toys and other children’s products made in China have been recalled due to lead contamination, but it’s beloved Thomas & Friends trains that have gotten parents’ attention.  The manufacturer, RC2, located in Oak Brook, IL is recalling 1.5 million Thomas & Friends trains because they are covered in lead based paint.  If you look at the Consumer […]

Popularity: 14% [?]