Twenty five million toys were recalled just this week, the majority made in China. Further recalls are underway, meaning toxic toys are still on the shelves. I assume an embargo is out of the question, or perhaps it makes more sense to penalize the large American toy companies with trusted names who are outsourcing abroad to save money – at what expense to the consumer?
I see no one speaking out who is in a position to perform either of the above solutions. This makes it more important that we know exactly what we can do to avoid buying the tainted toys. Even agencies like the Salvation Army are suffering. They are understaffed with volunteers to do the checking and re-checking necessary as each new toxic toy is discovered, and fear many children may go without this year, preferring to be safe rather than sorry.
Don Mays of the Consumer Union says there are some things you can do to significantly lower the risk. Most risks are from lead, toxic chemicals, and small magnets. Don’t forget to keep up on the latest pet food warnings while you’re researching toys. I was shocked to see that more are still being added to the list for Rover and Snowball Snookums Esq.
What WE can do?
Check www.recalls.gov to find out if a toy on your wish list is also on a recall list.
Receive Recall Alerts
– Be the first one to find out about recalls by subscribing for online alerts at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Do-It-Yourself Testing
Toys with lead paint currently headline the recall list, and there are do-it-yourself kits that test for these paints. Mays said the government doesn’t approve of inexpensive test swabs, but he believes that some can be useful for tools for detecting lead paint.
Check for a ‘CE’ Logo
‘CE’ means the toy meets European standards, which are more strict than U.S. requirements in some cases.
Am I Ever Totally Safe?
Following these steps may not completely eliminate the risk of buying a dangerous toy, but it can lessen the probability. One mother of young children bought safe toys. “You have to know what you are shopping for before you go,” she said. “I went online and found out if they used safe paints before I bought any more.”
Additional Resources
A consumer action guide to toxic chemicals in toys www.HealthyToys.org
The Toy Industry Association’s resource for toy safety: www.ToyInfo.org