Mattel recalls 18 million more toys that contain lead or tiny magnets

The toy-making firm Mattel recalled 18 million Chinese toys worldwide yesterday - including Barbie dolls and Batman figures in the UK and Europe - that contain magnets or lead paint that can harm children who swallow them.

The new recall - first announced in American newspapers and confirmed at a press conference - comes after Mattel recalled 1.5 million Fisher-Price products, including Sesame Street dolls, earlier this month

Yesterday's recall involves 1.9 million magnetic toys sold in the UK between 1 January 2002 and 31 January 2007 and a further 49,000 "Sarge" toy cars from the Disney film Cars, sold in the UK and Ireland from May until August. The action was announced after it emerged that at least one child in the US has died and 19 others have needed surgery after swallowing magnets used in the toys.

It is the latest of a string of scares in the toy industry. Last November, Polly Pocket dolls were recalled after several injuries had been reported. In March 2006, another toy company, Mega Brands, recalled 3.8 million Magnetix magnetic building sets after one child died and four others were seriously injured after swallowing the tiny magnets in them.

Mattel's recall notice, which its chief executive, Bob Eckert, addressed to "fellow parents," described the company as, "one of the most trusted names with parents" and said it was "working extremely hard to address your concerns and continue creating safe, entertaining toys for you and your children."

Mattel's recalls were overseen by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which reported that in the previous recall of Polly Pockets play sets, three children had been injured by swallowing more than one magnet. The lead-painted toys were recalled because lead is toxic if ingested by young children.

Gary Grant, chairman of the Toy Retailers Association which represents about 75 per cent of the UK toy trade, praised the way Mattel had handled its product testing and recalls. "Mattel have been in constant contact with us as retailers, keeping in touch with what was going on," he said.

Customers are urged to check products listed on the company's website or call a helpline on 01628 500303.