Losing My Faith: Mattel Boycott Pending for this Mama

Yes Silicon Valley, we are at it again!  By now, most of you know about ANOTHER toy recall!  Do we expect this ever to end, or should we just empty out our closets, pack away all the plastic toys and start over with our toy collections? Below is a cross-post from our sister site, Chicago Moms Blog. 

Mattel, I hate to be addressing you like this, in front of your public and all,  but I don't know whether to applaud you for being forthright and issuing "voluntary recalls" or to curse you out for not having firm policies on hand in the first place.

At this point, after more than 21 million toys recalled in just over a month, this is what you say you are doing;

1. All paint must be tested before it is used on our toys. No exceptions.
2. We have significantly increased testing and unannounced inspections at every stage of production.
3. We are testing every production run of finished toys to ensure compliance before they reach you.

But the looming question is...Why were you not doing this in the first place?

As many of you know I have researched this topic up and down the internet. I have become increasingly more vocal about how I feel about Lead Paint in toys. At first I just informed my readers of the recalls and where to purchase lead free toys. Then, I told you about the laws Senator Obama wanted to pass. Then, I asked you to SPEAK OUT. Now, I want answers. And I want answers from the CEO.

CEO Robert Eckert took over Mattel Inc. 7 years ago when Mattel was flailing. According to Alex Veiga, an AP writer, he turned the company around, partly due to a move from Kentucky to China. Brilliant, right?

1. Then why is it that a company that actually OWNS their plants in China can't uphold the US standards?

About 65 percent of Mattel's toys are made in China, but the toy maker has stood out among its rivals because it owns many of its factories there. About 50 percent of Mattel's production in China is produced in company-owned plants.

Or, are the lead free toys coming from subcontractors and contractors from the production plants that Mattel does not own in China. I'm curious.

So is Linda Boldont Weiser, analyst with Oppenheimer & Co. "The real issue or question lies with not so much how he's (Eckert) handling it all, but how the heck does this happen on his watch? Why wasn't he aware that there appears to be a quality and monitoring and testing issue in his company?"

Apparently, the company has more than 1,500 quality control employees around the world, but it can't specify how many are actually in China. I find that interesting. Additionally, according to that same Veiga article, Mattel also requires its toys to be tested but some of its Chinese vendors and subcontractors did not comply. But, they still worked for you? Come on.

2. Maureen Keene, of Made Deadly in China brings us this question..."Why did it take almost a month from the time that you learned there was a potential problem with lead paint in your products for you to announce a recall?"

Again, news reports say that this was a “fast-track” recall and that you were able to keep two-thirds of the dangerous toys from reaching consumers in the U.S.; however, that still leaves nearly 300,000 toys potentially in the hands of young children for a period of up to 60 days.  As a mother, this is outrageous and unacceptable to me.

3. Timely Manner? I thought all of this was voluntary...and expedited...and the LAW?

Mattel openly stated that it disagrees with The Consumer Product Safety Commission's 24 hour "rule".

Mattel Chairman and Chief Executive Robert Eckert said in an interview that the company discloses problems on its own timetable because it believes both the law and the commission's enforcement practices are unreasonable. Mattel said it should be able to evaluate hazards internally before alerting any outsiders, regardless of what the law says.

The CPSC has fined Mattel twice for withholding recall information but Mattel has it's reasons. They state that they want to  "consider possible remedies for defects before making an initial report to the agency before disclosing safety concerns".

Sounds reasonable to me. Just don't open your door or answer your phone after its my child injured.

Now after all that information, Does it make you want to BOYCOTT?

Mom Rising and Made Deadly in China have both proposed a boycott of toys made in China. Can you do it?

First it was lead paint in Thomas the Tank Engine toys, then it was lead paint in Elmo and Dora toys, and the list of recalled popular toys products due to the use of toxic lead paint keeps growing. Toxics shouldn’t be allowed in children’s products! Enough is enough! The Consumer Product Safety Commission needs the resources and the authority to stop toxic toy products from ever reaching store shelves. Let’s send a strong message to Congress and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), "Testing children's products for toxic chemicals must be a priority. No more toxic toys and children's products!"

I'm still on the fence because heck, my kid LOVES Hot Wheels. And, to be honest, I am more likely to boycott toys made in China than just Mattel toys. I KNOW that Mattel is working on the issue...but do I know other companies are just as diligent retroactive? I know of some.

"Mattel has worked hard and in good faith not only to comply with its obligations but also to go beyond them," Eckert said. "In addition to what the law expects, I know that parents expect safe toys, and they want assurances that those toys have been tested to make sure that they're safe. That's what we are doing at Mattel." 

Mr. Eckert, you should have ensured those toys were safe much sooner because I'm loosing my faith.

When she is not playing with Hot Wheels, Marcie writes at My Two Boys where you can find information on Lead Free Toys.