Mattel Inc. CEO Robert Eckert sought Wednesday to tamp down public outrage over unsafe Chinese-made toys, acknowledging that his company made mistakes by not closely overseeing subcontractors in China, the Associated Press reports.
In testimony to Congress, Eckert disputed reports that public warnings about the dangerous products were delayed because of disputes with federal regulators.
“We are by no means perfect,” Eckert said in prepared testimony to a Senate Appropriations subcommittee. “But we have tackled difficult issues before and demonstrated an ability to make change for the better, not only within our own company but for the broader industry.”
In recent weeks, Mattel has recalled more than 21 million Chinese-made toys, including popular Barbie, Polly Pocket and “Cars” movie items, because of concerns about lead paint and tiny magnets that could be swallowed.
