June 14, 2008 by mamadelbosque
Tags: 2008, june, recalls, toy recalls, toys
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April 29, 2008 by mamadelbosque
April 29, 2008
Character-themed lapel pins (Nintendo) lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08257.html
April 24, 2008
Infant Santa Outfits (Avon) choking
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08563.html
Basketball and Flower Tables (Avon) lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08562.html
April 22, 2008
Beco Baby Butterfly Carriers (Beco Baby Carriers) fall hazard
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08253.html
April 18, 2008
“Hip Charm” Key Chains (Walmart) lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08250.html
April 16, 2008
Western Rider Push Toys (Santa’s Toy Corp.) lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08249.html
April 10, 2008
Hillbilly Teeth (FUNTASTIC) lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08247.html
Flower Writers; Christmas Writers; Easter Writers and Spooky Writers Seasonal Writing Pens (Michaels Stores) lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08248.html
April 9, 2008
Interchange Robot Toys (OKK Trading) lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08246.html
April 8, 2008
Little Builder Children’s Board Book Sets with Toys (Dalmation Press) choking
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08245.html
Fun ‘N Games Magnetic Dart Boards (Henry Gordy), magnets
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08244.html
April 7, 2008
Cuddly Cousins Plush Insect Toys (Greenbrier International/Dollar Tree)choking hazard
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08243.html
April 3, 2008
Children’s Sunglasses (StyleMark) lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08239.html
Imaginarium Multi-Sided Activity Centers and Jungle Activity Centers (Toys “R” Us) choking
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08242.html
Tags: 2008, choking, lead, recalls, toy recalls, toys
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April 4, 2008 by mamadelbosque
Washington state has passed the most stringent toy standards in the nation. The Children’s Safe Products Act regulates lead (90ppm - .0009% by weight), phthalates (1000ppm - 01% by weight), cadmium (40ppm - .0004% by weight), in most toys, children’s cosmetics, jewelry and car seats. Manufacturers who ignore the regulations will be fined - up to $5000 per violation on the first offense and up to $10,000 thereafter!
Unfortunately, the Governor vetoed some portions of the bill. One would have required the state to set up a website with information on dangerous chemicals in children’s products and their (safer) alternatives. The Department of Ecology also no longer has a deadline to come up with a list of chemicals which pose the greatest threats to children, nor do manufactures have a deadline to file notices indicating which products contain them. He also, bizarrely eliminated the introduction which stated in part that exposure to certain metals and plasticizers are “linked to long-term health impacts, such as birth defects, reproductive harm, impaired learning, liver toxicity and cancer.”
Additionally the Department of Ecology has been instructed to prepare rules clarifying that the bill does not apply to internal electronic components that are inaccessible (chip boards, wiring, etc), determine how Washington will fit in with national, international and other state standards so that the standards can protect the most children possible, and to draw up a list of potential chemical hazards in children’s products.
All in all its not a perfect bill, but I think it is a step in the right direction. Hopefully more states and eventually the federal government will follow suit to protect our children from such dangerous chemicals. New York, Maine, Illinois and other states have stronger toy safety rules in the works.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/357287_toys02.html?source=mypi
Tags: cadmium, children's safe products act, lead, phthalates, toy safety, washington
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March 31, 2008 by mamadelbosque
So, I’ve just been having a look at the CPSC’s Toy Hazard Recalls listing. It contains all of the recalls for toys since February 25, 1974 (for a toy chest which apparently could trap a childs head between the front and top of the chest, resulting in at least one death….). It includes the notice on September 2, 1977 when lead was offically banned from paint on all toys and furniture, with only a few exceptions.
The next mention of lead (at least in the titles, its possible theres mentions in the actual articles. I’ll try to determine that over the next few days and post as such), comes on March 4, 1993. It is for a 10,000 puzzles which were imported from Israel, in which the red paint contains lead. From their they become slightly more common, with 3 in 1994 for an art set , toy wagon, and imported crayons all made in China; 1 in 1996 for 32 wooden beads with a cord for stringing , and a set of six spinning tops also all made in China ; 1 in 1998 for decals on pedal cars by Oscar Mayer. And then nothing for nearly 8 years.
In 2006 they crop up again, starting with flashlights fom Little Tikes on March 1st, followed by American Girl children’s jewlery on March 30th, bendable dog and cat toys on August 17th, various “Kool Toyz” from Target on November 15th. And that brings us to the start of 2007, as the recalls continue to trickle in, one after another for the first 7 months of the year (totalling 8 through July) before exploding in August (9), September (10) and October (28).
What of course most people don’t realize is that they didn’t end in October. That they continued on throughout the fall and winter(November: 11; December: 5; January: 6; February: 6; March: 5) . That they continue even now, with the latest just four days ago.
Tags: china, fisher-price, lead, lead recalls, mattel, recalls, toy recalls, toys
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February 22, 2008 by mamadelbosque
February 22, 2008
FUN ‘N SAFE Magnetic Dart Boards (Family Dollar) magnets
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml08/08201.html
Children’s Metal Necklaces (Pecoware) lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08200.html
Memory Testing Cards (Riverside Publishing) lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08546.html
February 19, 2008
Cinderella 12-Volt Electric Ride-on Vehicles (Dumar International USA) fire & burn hazards
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml08/08195.html
February 14, 2008
A Life of Faith Charm Bracelet Sets (Mission City Press) lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml08/08194.html
February 12, 2008
Remote-Controlled Helicopter Toys (Soft Air USA) Fire & burn hazards
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml08/08190.html
February 8, 2008
Children’s Table and Chair Set (Netshops) lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08543.html
February 7, 2008
Transparent Toy Egg Shakers (West Music Company) choking/aspiration hazard
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml08/08188.html
February 6, 2008
Sketchbooks with Colored Spirals (eeBoo) lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08184.html
February 5, 2008
Toy Gardening Hand Rakes (Zhongshan Foods) lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml08/08183.html
Tags: february 2008, recalls, toy recalls, toys
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February 3, 2008 by mamadelbosque
These are the kinds of stories that just really piss me off and make me determined not to buy any of Mattel’s products ever again.
56 Members of Congress want to know why Mattel CEO Robert Eckert refuses to issue a nationwide recall for a toy blood-pressure cuff that is contaminated with lead. The affected blood-pressure cuff, sold as part of the Fisher-Price Medical Kit, was recalled exclusively in Illinois after Mattel received a complaint from State Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Legislators want Eckert to stand by a pledge made to reassure a jittery public before the holiday buying season that Mattel would ‘earn back our trust with deeds, not just with words.’
http://consumerist.com/351456/members-of-congress-implore-mattel-to-do-the-right-thing-recall-lead+tainted-toy-blood+pressure-cuff
I’ve been hearing about this for months now. It took a while, but Mattel eventually recalled it in Illinois - where they have stricter laws about lead in children’s products. The CSPC is “investigating” but has yet to take any action. How many other toys are sitting out there in stores and in peoples homes with crazy amounts of lead and other chemicals that simply haven’t been recalled, because Mattel or Hasbro or whomever are too worried about their bottom line?
Tags: fisher-price, made in china, mattel, toy recalls, toys
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January 31, 2008 by mamadelbosque
January 31, 2008
Baby Einstein baby Neptune Soothing Seascape Crib Toys (Kids II) choking hazard
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml08/08176.html
Reading and Math Aids (RR Donnelley) lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08541.html
January 24, 2008
Big Wooden Blocks & Jumbo Wooden Train Sets (First Learning) lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml08/08174.html
January 23, 2008
Toy Racing Cars (OKK Trading) lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml08/08172.html
January 17, 2008
Cranium Cadoo Board Games (Cranium Inc) lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08169.html
My first Kenmore” Play Stoves (Sears, Kmart) tip-over hazard
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08166.html
January 15, 2008
Toy Wrestler Figures (AA of America) lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml08/08164.html
January 3, 2008
Metal Toy Wagons (Tricam Industries) lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml08/08154.html
Tags: january 2008, recalls, toy recalls, toys
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