Welcome to CPSC’s Podcast for Friday, September 7, 2007. I’m Patty Davis.

CPSC announced several large recalls involving toys from Mattel and Fisher Price this week. They include 675,000 Barbie Accessory Toys, 8,900 Fisher Price Bongo Band Toys, and 90,000 Geo Trax Locomotive toys. Joining me to talk about these recalls is CPSC’s Director of Public Affairs Julie Vallese. Welcome Julie.

[Julie:] Thanks Patty.

[Patty:] Why are these toys being recalled?

[Julie:] The reason for this toy recall is because all of them violate the lead paint standard. The standard has been in place for the better part of 30 years and lead paint is a banned hazardous substance in this country. All of these products do have some lead paint on them so that’s why they are being recalled.

[Patty:] What should parents do if they have any of these recalled toys?

[Julie:] Although the risk is extremely low for any kind of lead poisoning, you do want to take it away from your child. Lead paint is cumulative. Lead does stay in a child’s system. So it is important to take it away from your child. But then contact Mattel’s Fisher Price unit at (888) 496-8330. And that same number works for all three of the recalls. You need to return the toy to Mattel or Fisher Price, not to the place of purchase, so that you can receive a free replacement toy.

[Patty:] Julie, what would you recommend to parents who are concerned that they may have unsafe toys in their child’s toy box?

[Julie:] Well, the best thing first and foremost is do an inventory. Take the toys that are in your home and check it against the CPSC’s Web site for recalled products. That’s cpsc.gov. But while you’re on our site, for future actions you want to sign up for email alerts. There is a place on the Web site to do that. You just need to give your email address. It’s free. It’s fast. And it may end up being lifesaving information.

[Patty:] And you can even pick categories of products that you would like us to alert you about. When we know about it, you’ll know about it. Thanks Julie.

[Julie:] Thank you Patty.

[Patty:] Now you can find out more about these recalls and all recalls announced by CPSC on our Web site, www.cpsc.gov. That’s it for this week’s podcast. Thanks for listening.

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