Following Massive Recalls, Safety Lapses

Massive Day of Action Targets Kohlberg Kravis Roberts ('KKR') and 88 Toys 'R' Us Stores as Activists Turn to Consumers to Join Campaign against Toxic Toys at Toys 'R' Us

Times Square Event: Coalition will Offer Free Same Day Lead Testing using X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry to NYC Parents Near Toys 'R' Us Flagship Store in Times Square

NEW YORK, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Concerned mothers and advocates for children will step up the campaign for toxic free toys on Wednesday as they head out to nearly a hundred Toys "R" Us Stores nationwide to intensify the call on one of the chain's private equity owners -- Kholberg Kravis Roberts & Co. ("KKR") -- to make sure Toys "R" Us stops selling dangerous toys and starts requiring its suppliers to adhere to a strict, verifiable code of conduct. KKR, profiled in the best selling book Barbarians at the Gate, make their money by buying companies with borrowed money and then selling them a few years later for a quick profit -- in some cases, a profit achieved through dramatic cost cutting or downsizing. Last week, SEIU released "Barbarians in the Playroom" a report about the connection between KKR and toxic toys. It can be found at www.toxicplayroom.org.

Hundreds of thousands of products sold by companies owned in whole or in part by KKR were recalled this summer because of dangerous lead levels. Despite the recalls, another toxic toy was found on Toys "R" Us shelves just this month. The Center for Environmental Health reported Oct. 11 that test results for a Marvel Curious George doll bought recently at Toys "R" Us showed more than 10 times the legal lead-paint limit.

    WHEN:   October 24 - Noon-1:30 p.m.

    WHERE:  Toys "R" Us at Broadway and W 45th St.
            Testing of toys: Crown Plaza Hotel, Rm 504, 1605 Broadway between
            48th and 49th

    WHO:    Child safety advocates and concerned mothers outside Toys "R" Us
            in Times Square, and product testers at the Crown Plaza Hotel,
            who will be sampling purchases for toxic chemicals.

This event is being organized by the groups listed at top -- wholly independent of KKR, Toys "R" Us, and Dollar General.