Mattel recalled nearly one million toys in 2007 because of lead paint violations.
The recalls affected toys manufactured in China, including products carrying Mattel brands such as Barbie, Fisher-Price, and Sesame Street. The central concern was paint containing lead above permitted limits. Lead exposure is particularly dangerous for young children because it can affect neurological development.
Mattel also recalled toys containing small powerful magnets that could detach and be swallowed. The company later apologized to Chinese manufacturers, noting that many of the paint problems resulted from supplier failures rather than deliberate conduct by the factories themselves.
The episode is often grouped with the wider 2007 Chinese export recalls, which involved toys, pet food, toothpaste, and other consumer products. It is distinct from later recalls involving only choking hazards or defective toy parts.