China toy chief suicides after recall

The head of a Chinese company that made Sesame Street and other toys that were recalled in the United States has apparently killed himself.

Photo: China toy chief suicides after recall

A state-run newspaper said Zhang Shuhong, who ran the Lee Der Industrial Co. Ltd., committed suicide at a warehouse over the weekend, just days after China temporarily banned exports by the company he ran.

Nearly 1 million of the company's toys were recalled by Mattel this month because of high lead levels in the paint, WMUR reports.

According to Servihoo, Fisher-Price, a subsidiary of Mattel, this month recalled nearly one million toys, including popular Sesame Street and Dora the Explorer-branded models sold in US stores, because of fears they contained toxic lead paint.

Many of the toys were produced by Lee Der.

The government last week ordered Lee Der and another toy manufacturer at the centre of a similar high-profile recall in the United States to suspend their exports.

Zhang, who is from Hong Kong , was found with "deep marks" on his neck, said the paper, based in the southern city of Guangzhou .

A company official surnamed Liu told the paper Zhang had committed suicide.