Case studay Mattel
CASE STUDY: “Consumer Rights and Product Safety: Mattel”
Who: Mattel, Early Light Industrial Co., Hong Li Da, Lee Der, United States,
European Union, China
When: August-November 2007
Where: Honk Kong, China, United States, United Kingdom
What: In 2007, a number of recalls affected Chinese products as diverse as toothpaste to pet food to toys. In the toy industry, companies such as R2
Corporation and Mattel, the largest toy-maker in the world, responded to safety concerns by recalling over 20 million products.
The recalls included sixty-three Mattel products such as the miniature doll play set, “Polly Pocket TM” which contained small magnets. These magnets, if extracted from the toys, could be swallowed by children. If more than one magnet is swallowed, then it is possible that the two would be attracted to each other in the child’s stomach, causing the child’s intestines to rupture or tear. In
August, 2007, Mattel reported over 400 cases of the magnets coming loose.
Three serious injuries occurred where children swallowed the magnets and needed surgery.
Barbie TM dolls also affected by the recall were coated with lead paint. Lead paint is linked to impaired intellectual and physical growth in children. The U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall in August 2007.
Mattel responded by taking out full page ads in the New York Times. Mattel issued a personal letter from Mattel CEO Robert Eckert. Eckert acknowledged the problem and also reasserted Mattels’ concern for safety. Mattel also said it should take full responsibility for magnet related recalls due to design problems. The Chinese and U.S. governments responded by forming an agreement in
September 2007. China signed an agreement prohibiting the use of lead paint on toys exported to the United States, in the wake of the recalls of millions of playthings decorated with paint containing the toxic metal.
The pact was unveiled at the second joint US-China summit on consumer
Who: Mattel, Early Light Industrial Co., Hong Li Da, Lee Der, United States,
European Union, China
When: August-November 2007
Where: Honk Kong, China, United States, United Kingdom
What: In 2007, a number of recalls affected Chinese products as diverse as toothpaste to pet food to toys. In the toy industry, companies such as R2
Corporation and Mattel, the largest toy-maker in the world, responded to safety concerns by recalling over 20 million products.
The recalls included sixty-three Mattel products such as the miniature doll play set, “Polly Pocket TM” which contained small magnets. These magnets, if extracted from the toys, could be swallowed by children. If more than one magnet is swallowed, then it is possible that the two would be attracted to each other in the child’s stomach, causing the child’s intestines to rupture or tear. In
August, 2007, Mattel reported over 400 cases of the magnets coming loose.
Three serious injuries occurred where children swallowed the magnets and needed surgery.
Barbie TM dolls also affected by the recall were coated with lead paint. Lead paint is linked to impaired intellectual and physical growth in children. The U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall in August 2007.
Mattel responded by taking out full page ads in the New York Times. Mattel issued a personal letter from Mattel CEO Robert Eckert. Eckert acknowledged the problem and also reasserted Mattels’ concern for safety. Mattel also said it should take full responsibility for magnet related recalls due to design problems. The Chinese and U.S. governments responded by forming an agreement in
September 2007. China signed an agreement prohibiting the use of lead paint on toys exported to the United States, in the wake of the recalls of millions of playthings decorated with paint containing the toxic metal.
The pact was unveiled at the second joint US-China summit on consumer