Mattel recalls nearly 11 million toys

Toy manufacturing giant Mattel is voluntarily recalling nearly 11 million products in the U.S. and Canada, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada.

The recall includes several models of toddler tricycles, high chairs, inflatable balls and toy cars.

The largest recall is of seven million Fisher-Price Trikes and Tough Trikes toddler tricycles, of which 150,000 were sold in Canada. Ten injuries have been reported of children falling against a protruding plastic "ignition key" on the toy.

Health Canada, in a statement issued on Thursday morning, said the tricycles are intended for children ages two to five.

"A child can strike, sit, or fall on the protruding ignition key, resulting in serious injury including genital bleeding," Health Canada said.

Health Canada has not received any Canadian reports of incidents or injuries related to the use of these trikes. However, the department's statement said parents should place the toy out of reach of children immediately.

The toys were sold in Canada from January 1997 through September 2010.

Trikes manufactured after June 16, 2010 are not included, Health Canada said.

The New York-based toy company is also recalling 2.8 million inflatable balls. It reports 125,000 were sold in Canada.

Health Canada says a valve on the toy can come off, posing a choking hazard. These products were sold between July 2001 and July 2008. There have been eight reported incidents in Canada.

In addition, 125,000 high chairs in Canada and 20,000 toy cars have been recalled.

According to the release, there have been several incidents where children have been injured by both of those products, as well.

All of the products were in stores until September 2010.

Health Canada says children may be injured by falling against pegs in the back legs of the high chair and consumers should stop using the chair immediately.

The chairs were sold in Canada from September 2001 through September 2010.

Fisher-Price general manager Kevin Curran issued a statement Thursday morning.

"Many of us here at Fisher-Price are parents, too — myself included — and we share your belief that nothing is more important than the well-being of our children.

"In collaboration with the Consumer Products Safety Commission, Health Canada and other regulators, we initiated the recall process for certain products. And we're reaching out to parents to help you determine whether you have a recalled product and how to get a replacement part or repair kit."

"Product recalls are a difficult part of business, and I understand they're particularly concerning when they involve products for children. But we're going to continue to work extremely hard to bring your family products that are safe and engaging and innovative — just as you expect from Fisher-Price," Mr. Curran said in a statement.

(Published by National Post - September 30, 2010)