Have all Chinese toys become unsafe? by Corina Ciubotaru

A man killing himself over toys isn't something you hear about everyday. But the manager of a toy company in China taking responsibility to the edge and ending his own life sounds a bit more believable. It is the result of authorities recalling toys manufactured by his company Lee Der Industrial Inc., after it was discovered that the paint used to make them contained high amounts of lead. This can cause serious health concerns in kids, including vomiting or even neurological problems. China has had a number of scandals recently involving products that did not meet safety standards. Food, toothpaste and toys are just some of the products that were deemed unsuitable for use by authorities in importing countries, so the safety inspectors' controls are on the increase all around the country, as China needs exports to support the booming economy. Another company that has been recently found responsible for selling unsafe products is Hansheng Wood Products Factory who also used dangerous paint on its wooden toys, sold as part of the Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway series. And the trouble doesn't end here; Mattel, the company that recalled the Lee Der products last week, has announced a similar action will take place in a few days, involving 9 million items. Other companies like Hasbro and RC2 also recalled products due to manufacturing problems. This is a big blow to the entire industry as parents don't know who to trust anymore. A few kids have already undergone surgery after swallowing small magnets that perforated their intestines.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070813/ap_on_re_as/china_tainted_products;_ylt=AgqkbkFFmZ5oMhLWQKBo05.s0NUE

by Corina Ciubotaru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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