Breaking NewsSponsored by The Sullivan Auto Group
Subscribe: Home Delivery Special!
State attorney general sues toy companies, others over lead exposure
By Darrell Smith - dvsmith@sacbee.com
Last Updated 4:00 pm PST Monday, November 19, 2007
California's attorney general sued a who's who of toy manufacturers, retailers and department stores Monday, alleging that they knowingly exposed individuals to lead and failed to warn consumers about the health hazard in violation of Proposition 65. Attorney General Jerry Brown filed an 11-page complaint Monday against 20 companies, including Mattel, Fisher-Price, Wal-Mart, Target, Sears, Costco, Toys 'R' Us and KB Toys, in Alameda County Superior Court.
Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, states that businesses cannot expose people to hazardous chemicals without posting a clear warning.
"Companies must take every reasonable step to assure that the products they handle are safe for children and their families," Brown said Monday in a prepared statement.
The impact of the lawsuit -- issued just days before the start of the holiday retail season -- on toy sales is unclear, but it is potentially another blow to toymakers Mattel and Fisher-Price buffeted this summer by a massive recall of more than 10 million Chinese-made toys painted with lead-based paints.
Mattel, the maker of Barbie and Hot Wheels, said in a prepared statement that it expected the suit, adding that the toymaker has been cooperating with the AG's office since the recalls and has implemented a system to ensure product safety.
The three-point checklist includes testing of all paints before they are applied to toys; increased random, unannounced inspections of vendors and subcontractors; and sample tests of every production run of painted toys.
"Mattel expects that its continuing dialogue with the California Attorney General's Office ... will be productive not only for Mattel but the entire toy industry," the statement read.
About the writer:
- Call The Bee's Darrell Smith, (916) 321-1040.
Recommend this story at Yahoo! Buzz:
Unique content, exceptional value. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Most Popular
More Stories in Business
News |
Sports |
Business |
Politics |
Opinion |
Entertainment |
Living Here |
Travel |
Blogs |
Cars |
Homes |
Jobs |
Classifieds/Shopping
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Site Map | Advertise | Guide to The Bee | Bee Jobs | FAQs | RSS
Contact Us | e-edition | Subscribe | Manage Your Subscription | E-newsletters | Sacbeemail | Archives
sacbee.com | Sacramento.com | Capitol Alert | SacMomsClub.com | SacPaws.com | SacWineRegion.com
Copyright © The Sacramento Bee
2100 Q St. P.O. Box 15779 Sacramento, CA 95816 (916) 321-1000