Millions Of Toxic Toys Recalled: The Nightmarish Reality Of Global Capitalism
By David Walsh 16 August 2007 The world’s largest toy maker, Mattel Corporation , announced August 14 that it was recalling nearly 19 million toys worldwide , half of them in the US, because of the dangers they pose to children . Some 436,000 toy cars made in China were withdrawn because they are covered in lead paint, while more than 18,000,000 other toys, also made in China, are being recalled because they contain small, powerful magnets that could do great damage if swallowed. The company and the media are going to considerable lengths to downplay the incident and minimize the risks involved , but the conditions exist for a potential human disaster . Millions of the toys have already been sold. The magnetic toys were sold before January 2007 and had been produced since 2002. Some of the lead-painted toys have been sold this summer. No one has any idea what damage has already been done. Many of the toys will never be retrieved. Parents by the thousands around the US have al...