This whole article is so terribly sad. Unfortunately little children
will put things in their mouths...I remember swallowing a coin as a child.

Actually after this incident occurred my children were not allowed to
buy anything in the silly cash eating "candy, gumball,or trinket"
machines seen so frequently outside stores here in the US. (The US
residents will know to the machines I am referring. I have done a lot
of travel, but honestly cannot recall if other countries have those
"impulse buy" "beg mom" machines outside the grocery stores. My kids
are not allowed to buy temporary "tattoos" either as the tattoos have
been found to have lead in their inks.

We buy very little that is made in China due to the country's poor
safety track record on Lead and other toxic compounds(like the Pet
food Scare also last year). This is tough because I love many aspects
of Chinese style. I tend to stay away from dollar stores and remove
"extra" metal belts from trousers I buy my kids. One turned out to be
mostly Lead. My kids also cannot have "junk jewelry" as 90% of the
time the stuff is made in China or the store clerks have no idea the
country of origin.... I try to get them decent jewelry and the girls
know why.

I am glad I self imposed a "Chinese-made ban" as the "lead toy scare
of Christmas 2007" proved my hypothesis on Chinese imported toys
safety. I was interviewed by local television health reporters during
the holidays and told them our story. I truly hope many toys here
stayed on the shelves because we gave the human facts about what can
happen AFTER the poisoning. If we helped just one local family that is
gift enough for me.

When consumers vote with their wallets it tends to make companies and
countries change their harmful ways....If the US government can't make
countries clean up there act maybe the US, UK, AUS and NZ consumers
can be the force.


Alexandra in Lakewood

PS:I still LOVE Chinese Food!