Major Thomas the Tank Engine Recall

More worrying news is being reported about products produced in China according to ABC News. A popular children's toy, 'Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway' has been recalled, as it has been discover that the toy was painted with paint containing lead.

The 'Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway' is one of the world's most popular children's toys and this new is sure to worry thousands of parents. The toy recall is another addition to the growing list of products coming out of China that are found to be violating health and safety measures.

The recall involves 1.5 million sets of the 'Thomas & Friends Wooden Train'. The company that sells the popular children's toy, RC2, has sent out an urgent message to parents asking them to prevent their children from using the toy.

According to ABC news, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said, "Consumers should take the recalled toys away from young children immediately."

In a press release from RC2, distributed by their PR representatives, the Salmon Borre Group, action is being taken, "As part of a thorough investigation, RC2 identified the issue, isolated the manufacturing facility, and has implemented a correct action plan."

Also included in the recall statement put out by RC2's PR firm, Salmon Borre Group, it said, "At this time, there have been no reports of illness or injury as a result of this issue." This according to consumer advocates does not mean the issue has not affected any children, it just means that nothing has been reported.

According to RC2 the 1.5 million 'Thomas & Friends Wooden Trains' makes up around 4 percent of the Thomas The Tank Engine trains that the company selling in the US.

Following the press release, RC2's PR firm would not answer any further questions about the toy recall such as where the manufacture was located or providing more information about what the company was doing to fix the situation.

A representative from the Consumers Union, Sally Greenberg told ABC News, "Even if the amounts of lead in one product are small, the cumulative exposure is the problem." "You have it in bibs and lunch boxes and over a period of time it can become a serious problem"

The increasing health issues arising from Chinese products have sparked more detailed looks at products that are being manufactured in China.

RC2 is the third toy company in recent months to recall toys that were made in China. Only a month ago Graco Children's Products put out a recall call for 40,000 of their stuffed blocks after a number of children had choked. A plastic film that was on the stuffed blocks caused the choking.

After reports of children suffering burns, when their hands got stuck in Hasbro's 'Easy-Bake-Oven' the company put out a recall for around 1 million ovens. The Easy 'Easy-Bake-Oven' is another children's toy that is being manufactured in China.
In the US products made in China top the list of those being recalled. So far in 2007 Chinese products have made up 65 percent of all the products recalled in the US. Last year 223 products that were made in China had to be recalled. The biggest culprit in the recalled products was the presence of lead.

For anyone concerned the official product recall can be found on the CPSC.gov website. They may also call toll-free at (866) 725-4407.

Sources
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07212.html#http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07212.html
http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3275264&page=1