China is again at the center of a nationwide recall.

This one involves nearly 1 million Fisher-Price toys pulled off the market late Wednesday because they may contain excessive levels of lead paint. Lead is toxic and can cause serious health effects if ingested by children.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of 976,000 Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, and other children’s toys imported from China by Fisher-Price. The East Aurora, New York, company sold the toys at retailers nationwide between May and August 2007.

The toys -- sold alone or as part of a set -- have a date code between 109-7LF and 187-7LF on the product or packaging.

The recalled toys include Elmo Light Up Musical Pal, Big Bird Light Up Musical Pal, Dora's Talking House, Go Diego Go Antarctic Rescue, and Sesame Street Birthday Figure Pack. (A complete list of the recalled toys is below).

The CPSC said it has not received any reports of injuries associated with these recalled toys, but warned consumer to immediately take them away from children.

Wednesday’s announcement comes on the heels of several recalled items imported from China this year, including melamine-tainted ingredients used to make pet food, tires, fish, and other toys.

In June, for example, RC2 Corp. recalled about 1.5 million "Thomas & Friends" wooden railway toys because the surface paints contained lead.

A ConsumerAffairs.com investigation also revealed that 96 percent of the recalled toys in 2007 were imported from China.

Consumers with questions about this latest toy recall can contact Fisher-Price at (800) 916-4498 or visit the company’s Web site at www.service.mattel.com.