Sunday, May 25, 2008

When colors can kill

Roaming the aisles of a toy store can be multi-sensory overload, but it can be eye candy at the same time. All those bright shades of red and yellow and the yummy pinks and lilacs draw the eyes, and one shouldn't be surprised that kiddies find them just as attractive.

But then, when we featured toy recall updates last year, with some information on the lead paint issue, that's when I realized that the shinier and more colorful surfaces usually end up containing the highest amount of lead.

Now here's a news report stating that the toy recalls in 2008 so far are record-breaking in terms of numbers -- and we're not even halfway through the year yet! Parents, do take notice. And do consider the possibility of getting your kids simple, wooden and unvarnished playthings. Just because something sparkles, rings, beeps and lights up, that doesn't necessarily mean it's good for your kid.

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Record number of toys being recalled in '08

Published: Saturday, May 24, 2008 12:36 a.m. MDT

Nearly 10 million toys and other products have been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission between January and April — a rate that, by year's end, could exceed 2007's record number of recalls by 70 percent.

That's according to an analysis issued this month by Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports.

The group is calling on Congress to modernize the Consumer Product Safety Commission "to help protect our children from hazardous products," policy counsel Ami Gadhia said. Bill provisions they want adopted include improved safety standards for children's products and an accessible incidents database to keep families informed.

Moms, including one whose baby died in an unsafe crib, accompanied consumer advocates in Washington last week to drive home the point.

"Consumers' illusion that our product safety system is working has been shattered by the many recalls of children's toys," Rachel Wintraub, director of product safety and senior counsel for Consumer Federation of America, said in a prepared statement.

The commission has initiated 121 product recalls through April, for a total of nearly 10 million products, Consumers Union reports. Almost 6 million were for children's products, including toys, clothes, bikes, games, pacifiers, rattles and cribs.


Read the whole thing at Deseret News




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