Gary Knell, president-CEO of Sesame Workshop, told a congressional committee today that the nonprofit producer of public television’s “Sesame Street” will start doing its own audits during manufacturing and shipping of licensed toys featuring the show’s characters.

The announcement follows the recall of thousands of “Sesame Street”-related toys, produced by Mattel and Fisher Price, that had excessive levels of lead paint.

The recall is embarrassing under any condition, but especially so for a company whose characters are featured in doctors’ handouts warning about childhood exposure to lead paint.

Mr. Knell said today that Sesame Workshop has limited licensing to top manufacturer to try to avoid problems and also required that all products produced meet certain safety standards.

However, because it now feels it needs to be more vigilant, he said, Sesame Workshop will have in place within 30 days a process to independently audit the safety of all its license products at various points in the supply chain.

“We do not take lightly the trust of parents and caregivers who for nearly 40 years have come to equate ‘Sesame Street’ with safety, health and something good for children,” Mr. Knell said in prepared testimony to the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s subcommittee on commerce, trade and consumer protection.

“We will hold the companies that license our characters accountable, and we will stop working with them if they do not meet our requirements for safety and social responsibility,” he said. “If none of the toy manufacturers can guarantee safety for the consumers who buy our licensed toys, we will get out of the business altogether.”

(Editor: Horowitz)