The security party

Life under the GOP.

A US importer is recalling 1.5 million "Thomas and Friends" wooden train toys made in China because of paint containing lead, the company and US government regulators said.

Wooden wagons and other train-set parts of the toy popular with young children were being voluntarily recalled by the importer, RC2 Corp based in Oak Brook, Illinois, in cooperation with US officials, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a statement.

"Consumers should take the recalled toys away from young children immediately and contact RC2 Corp for a replacement toy," said the US agency. Customers were advised to visit the company's website, www.recalls.rc2.com.

The toys were sold in the United States from January 2005 to June 2007 for between 10 and 70 dollars, it said.

"At this time, there have been no reports of illness or injury as a result of this issue," the company said on its website.

Lead is toxic and can pose a dangerous health risk to young children, causing brain and blood disorders.

The recall comes amid increasing concern over health risks posed by food and other tainted products from China, including toothpaste and pet food.

Think this has anything to do with toys with lead paint getting into the United States?

After the 9/11 attacks, Tommy Thompson, then Health and Human Services secretary, demanded that the food inspection force at the nation’s ports be improved, and 600 more inspectors were rapidly put in place to examine the burgeoning imports of food. Today, they are all gone, the victims of year-by-year budget cuts that cripple the agency’s ability to do even rudimentary screening of our food.

So where are we today? There are 13 million food imports this year, with FDA able to inspect only about 1 percent. The system is so weak that many FDA professionals fear the word is out in the international community you can send virtually anything, of any quality, regardless of risk, to the United States, because no one’s looking.

Remember: Taxes are bad.