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7.10.2009 9:42 AM

For Lead Violations, 9 Companies are Fined (as Little as 1 Cent Per Toxic Toy)

Fines are as big as $100,000 ... but as little as 1 cent per toy that might have caused a child permanent brain damage. See the latest toxic toy recalls.

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backyard and beyond metal water bottles
Photo: CPSC

By Dan Shapley

Nine companies will pay a combined total of more than $500,000 in penalties for selling toys and other children's products laced with toxic lead, settling claims by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The products included toys, jewelry, pens, water bottles, sunglasses and Halloween and Easter items.

That's the headline, as written by the CPSC. It's true. It sounds good. But how much does that mean these companies paid per toy they made, imported, distributed or sold to parents, who unwittingly gave these toxic products to their children?

In most cases, not much. Of course, these companies would have paid to recall, replace and refund the items, leading to a business lost, presumably (though we imagine many toys sold are never returned for a refund, even after a recall is announced). Hopefully, they've learned their lesson. Maybe they've been put out of business through the process. Probably not.

Lead exposure can lead to permanent brain damage, behavioral changes, learning disabilities and a variety of other health problems. How much should endangering children for a profit cost a company? The CPSC states that these companies knowingly trafficked in lead-laced toys.

The following firms were fined (Mattel and Fisher-Price were previously fined at a cost of $2.56 per toxic toy):


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