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Companies Recall More Toys, Beef

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The Associated Press

Published: October 26, 2007

In a flurry of announcements Thursday, companies recalled products ranging from Fisher-Price toys to Florida beef to children's seats. Chinese-made toys with excessive amounts of lead topped the list as six toy makers said they would recall 665,000 toys.

Mattel Inc., the nation's largest toy maker, has recalled 21 million Chinese-made toys this year. Thursday's recall included 38,000 of its Fisher-Price toys.

The company was at the epicenter of a consumer-safety storm in August when it issued two major recalls for lead-tainted toys and toys with small, powerful magnets that can cause intestinal perforations if swallowed. At the time of the Aug. 14 worldwide recall of 18.6 million toys, Mattel chief executive Bob Eckert predicted more recalls would occur as a result of stepped-up oversight and testing.

Thursday's U.S. recalls of lead-contaminated toys include:

• About 38,000 Go Diego Go! Animal Rescue Boats, manufactured in China and imported by Fisher-Price, because the surface paints contain high levels of lead. No injuries have been reported. Details: by phone at (888) 299-0579; online at www .service.mattel.com or www.cpsc .gov.

• About 97,000 children's toy gardening tools, manufactured in China by Jo-Ann Stores, because the surface paint on the handles can contain high levels of lead. No injuries have been reported. Details: by phone at 1-888-739-4120; online at www.joann.com or www.cpsc .gov.

• About 80,000 football bobblehead cake decorations, manufactured in China by DecoPac Inc., because the surface paint contains high levels of lead. No injuries have been reported. Details: by phone at 1-800-536-6558; online at www .decopacproductsafety.com or www .cpsc.gov.

• About 198,000 Beary Cute, Expressions, and Sassy & Chic children's metal jewelry manufactured in China and imported by Greenbrier International, because it contains high levels of lead. No injuries have been reported. Details: by phone at 1-800-876-8077; by Web at www .dollartree.com or www.cpsc.gov.

• About 110,000 WeGlow children's metal jewelry manufactured in China and imported by WeGlow International, because it contains high levels of lead. No injuries have been reported. Details: by phone at 1-866-934-5692; online at www .weglow.com or www.cpsc.gov.

• About 142,000 purple Halloween pails with witch decorations, manufactured in China and imported by Family Dollar Stores, because the green paint contains high levels of lead. No injuries have been reported. Details: by phone at 1-800-547-0359; online at www.family dollar.com or www.cpsc.gov.

In addition to toys, about 1 million Bumbo 'Baby Sitter' seats were recalled by the manufacturer, Bumbo International of South Africa, after reports of 28 children falling out, resulting in three skull fractures.

Customers can call the company at 1-877-932-8626 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or visit www.bumbosafety.com, the commission said.

Finally, a Florida meat processor said Thursday it was recalling 8,200 pounds of frozen ground-beef products that may be contaminated with the potentially deadly E. coli bacteria, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.

The possible contamination was discovered by Creekstone Farm of Arkansas City, Kan., which supplied the meat to Blue Ribbon Meats of Hialeah, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement Wednesday. Creekstone had placed the meat on hold before it was inadvertently shipped, the USDA said.

The ground beef was destined for a correctional institution in Florida and a distributor in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, the USDA said.

The beef patties were packaged in 10- and 20-pound boxes with the brand names Wespak B.R. or JNS Foods LLC.

Information from Bloomberg News was used in this report.

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