From Reuters:
Hyping China’s food and product safety problem is a sickness in itself, the country’s new health minister said on Wednesday, a day after Mattel announced a third global recall of Chinese-made toys . A series of scandals involving sub-standard Chinese exports ranging from pet food, fish and toothpaste to toys has put increasing pressure on Beijing to clean up its manufacturing sector.
In the latest incident, the world’s leading toymaker, Mattel Inc , said it would take back more than 800,000 units of Fisher-Price models and Barbie brand playsets because of “impermissible” levels of lead. China’s government insists the problem is a limited one, that the huge majority of its exports are up to standard and that the Western media in particular has been irresponsible in its reporting on the issue, intentionally fanning the flames. [Full Text]