Cutting corners is expected in today’s cut-throat business world. However, there should be measuring lines in the sand that NO ONE should ever cross. Pretty much everything is made in China these days and that’s reality. It’s pretty ironic to browse clothes by Burberry and to see the words, “Burberry London” in all the tags but upon further inspection, “Made in China” is on the stitching. Even my high-end tennis racquet is “Engineered in Germany” but “Made in China.”

Mattel will announce another recall of Chinese-made toys on Wednesday because they may contain excessive amounts of lead paint. The Associated Press reports the latest recall by the world’s largest toy maker will be for a Fisher-Price toy and accessories to a Barbie playset. The recall involves several hundred thousand units, but there is no indication if it involves Canadian-sold toys.
It’s the third recall by Mattel of Chinese-made toys. Earlier recalls involved concerns about lead paint, or small magnets that could be swallowed by children. Mattel’s last recall, announced on August 14, covered about 19 million toys worldwide. On August 1st, Mattel’s Fisher-Price division said it was recalling 1.5 million preschool toys featuring characters such as Dora the Explorer, Big Bird and Elmo because of lead paint.

Let me get this straight: Mattel really tried to cut costs and corners by neglecting quality assurance so it’s going to cost them millions and millions of dollars to rectify the situation?! The bad publicity is going to cost them as well. I know that if I going to buy toys for some crumb-cruncher, I am sure to avoid Mattel like the plague. I’m sure there will be many lawsuits to come from today’s litigious-happy society of ambulance-chasing lawyers.