DANGEROUS TOYS TO AVOID THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

By Miriam Raftery

December 11, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Dangerous or toxic toys can still be found on America’s store shelves, according to U.S. Public Interest Research Group’s 28th annual Trouble in Toyland report.  The survey of hazardous toys found that despite recent progress, consumers must still be wary when shopping this holiday season.

The report reveals results of laboratory testing on toys for toxic chemicals including lead, cadmium, and phthalates, all of which can have serious adverse health impacts on the development of children. The survey also found small toys that pose a choking hazard, extremely loud toys that threaten children’s hearing, and toy magnets that can cause serious injury if swallowed. 

“We should be able to trust that the toys we buy are safe. However, until that’s the case, parents need to watch out for common hazards when shopping for toys,” said Jenny Levin, U.S. PIRG Public Health Advocate.

One of the most dangerous toys listed is the Captain America Soft Shield, which contains 29 times more lead than allowed by law.  Fisher-Price’s Loving Family Outdoor BBQ and the Littlest Pet Shop by Hasbro both contain pieces that could choke a small child.  The list includes items made by major toy manufacturers such as Hasbro and Mattel, as well as items sold by major retail chains such as Walmart, Toys R Us, and Babies R us. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pencil cases made by Innovative Design contain cadmium, a toxic metal, while Mattel’s Laugh and Learn Remote was deemed a noise hazard at 85 decibels—20 decibels higher than allowed by law, high enough to cause hearing loss.

The good news is that over the past five years, stronger rules have helped get some of the most dangerous toys and children’s products off the market.  Patty Davis, a spokesperson for the Consumer Products Safety Commission, stated, “Toys are safer now than they have been in the past.  Seizures of defective toys at U.S. ports are up. Nearly 10 million units of toys have been stopped at ports over the past five years.  These were potentially dangerous toys that did not make it into our stores or into the hands of children.”

However, not all toys comply with the laws, and holes in the toy safety net remain.  So parents should be vigilant in researching toys before purchasing them for children.

To download Toy Tips or the full Trouble in Toyland report, click here.