Mattel Fined $2.3 Million for Toy Hazard

WASHINGTON (AP) - Mattel Inc. and its Fisher-Price subsidiary
have been hit with a $2.3 million civil penalty for producing toys
with unsafe levels of lead paint.
    A government safety official says the companies are paying the
fine after recalling two million of their popular Big Bird, Elmo,
Dora and other toys in 2007.
    The toys were recalled after testing found unsafe lead levels in
paint used to make the toys.
    The official said it was the biggest federal fine for a lead
paint violation. The official, who was not authorized to discuss
the fine before it was announced, spoke on condition of anonymity.
    Mattel and Fisher-Price were among dozens of manufacturers that
yanked millions of Chinese-made toys from store shelves around the
holiday shopping season in 2007.