Remember
when we searching through kids toys box by box as endless toys were
being recalled because of lead paint being used in the products.
All
of our made in China toys were facing scrutiny as word was released
that the Chinese factories were using paint with lead to decorate the
toys.
It
is official this week that Fisher-Price/Mattel has officially faced
their punishment. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
announced today that Mattel Inc., of El Segundo, Calif. and its
wholly owned subsidiary, Fisher-Price Inc., of East Aurora, N.Y. have
agreed to pay a $2.3 million civil penalty for violating the federal
lead paint ban.
"These
highly publicized toy recalls helped spur Congressional action last
year to strengthen CPSC and make even stricter the ban on lead paint
on toys," said CPSC Acting Chairman Thomas Moore in a press release
on their website.. "This penalty should serve notice to toy makers
that CPSC is committed to the safety of children, to reducing their
exposure to lead, and to the implementation of the Consumer Product
Safety Improvement Act."
This
comes the same week as an email campaign is being sent out by an
anonymous originator asking for Americans to boycott Chinese
products. The email tells a story of a woman who went to buy
mandarin oranges from Wal-Mart when she noticed on the label of the
store brand that is was "Made in China."
At
this point, would we expect anything less from Wal-Mart? The woman
spent the few extra cents and bought the Dole name brand that was
"Made in California."
The
email contends that "If 200
million Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods,
that's a billion dollar trade imbalance ."
The
email is asking all Americans to boycott June 4th through
July 4th. Coincidentally, the CPSC ruled on the last
downfall of trusting Chinese products on June 5th.
What
do we do America? Do we send a message to our own Congress and the
Chinese that we do not need their products. Nevermind, that the
Chinese continue to bail out businesses and farmers across America
every day during this recession?
I
am not a conspiracy theorist by nature, but do we need to worry about
how much control China has over our consumerism when we are being
threatened by North Korea with war?
Do
we, as Americans, need to better guard our families from tainted
products? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section
below.
For
more information on the settlement with Fisher-Price/Mattel, visit
online at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09237.html
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