More Fisher-Price toys recalled for lead contamination

WASHINGTON – Mattel Inc. recalled an additional 38,000 “Go Diego Go!” toys Thursday as part of a larger recall of 665,000 lead-contaminated children’s products, the government said.

The nation’s largest toy maker issued two major recalls in August for lead-tainted toys and toys with small, powerful magnets that can cause intestinal perforations if swallowed.

Thursday’s recall involved orange and yellow Go Diego Go! Animal Rescue Boats, manufactured in China and imported by Fisher-Price. According to Mattel there were 38,000 affected toys in the U.S., 12,000 in Great Britain and 5,500 in Canada, for a worldwide total of 55,500.

Surface paint on the boats contain excessive levels of lead. Several Diego toys were included in the August recall of 1.5 million Mattel toys.

Lead is toxic if ingested by young children. Under current regulations, children’s products found to have more than 0.06 percent lead accessible to users are subject to a recall.

Consumer Product Safety Commission spokeswoman Julie Vallese said the recalls are due to the increased scrutiny promised earlier this summer.

“The CPSC, as well as manufacturers, continue to look for products that may violate the lead paint standard,” she said.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission also announced recalls of 627,000 other Chinese-made toys that are contaminated with lead. For a complete list, go to www.cpsc.gov.