More shonky toys from China recalled

In the second toy recall in a month more than 9 million Mattel toys are being recalled because of lead-based paint and magnets that may dislodge.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) along with Mattel has recalled more than 18 million toys worldwide, including 9.5 million toys in the U.S.

To date no injuries have been reported but the small, powerful magnets in many of the toys are at risk of coming loose and could be swallowed by small children.

If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforation or blockage, which can be fatal.

The recalled toys include 7.3 million Polly Pocket play sets, about 253,000 Sarge die-cast toy cars, about 683,000 Barbie and Tanner play sets, about 340,000 Batman and One Piece magnetic action figure sets, and about a million Doggie Day Care play sets.

The Sarge die-cast car is being recalled because surface paints on the toy possibly contain excess levels of lead, which is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause serious health problems; the cars have "7EA" and "China" on the bottom.

Barbie and Tanner play sets have the model numbers J9472 and J9560; those made after Jan. 31, 2007, are not included in the recall.

The various Polly Pocket dolls and accessories with magnets which have been recalled is an expansion of the Polly Pocket recall issued in November 2006 again because the magnets may come loose from the toys.

Batman and One Piece magnetic action figure sets have magnets that may fall out of the toys, and were sold nationwide from June 2006 through June 2007 for around $11.

Doggie Day Care play sets also have magnets that may fall out of the toys; they were sold nationwide from July 2004 to August 2007 for between $4 and $20.

All of the recalled toys were made in China and Mattel and the CPSC urge consumers to take the toys away from children immediately and contact Mattel to receive a replacement toy.

The CPSC says no injuries are associated with the new Mattel recall, which was issued out of an "abundance of caution."

Full details of the Mattel toy recall including pictures and model numbers can be seen on Mattel's consumer relations web site at http://service.mattel.com/us/recall.asp.

More information is also available by telephone on the Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall hotline at (800) 638-2772 or Mattel's recall hotline at (800) 916-4997.

Today's recall follows on from Mattel's August 2nd recall of nearly a million Fisher-Price toys that were painted with lead-based paint by a Chinese manufacturer and sold in the U.S. from May 1st until the recall began.

At that time, Mattel said it was reviewing the procedures used by all of its Chinese manufacturers and would take prompt action if any similar problems were discovered.