An advocacy group released its annual “Trouble in Toyland” report on the toys it says at the most dangerous for kids. Alana Stamas of the Iowa Public Interest Research Group (Iowa PIRG) says they have several categories of concern — including toys that could be a choking hazard.
She says they found a number of toys that are not labeled that they might be a choking hazard. Stamas says the toys include party favors and some small cars.
Stamas says there’s also a worry that some toys are underlabeled. Stamas says the Mattel company has put a warning on toys under their Fisher Price toys that she says “covers their bases” but is not the official warning label. She says PIRG is worried this understates the choking hazard. Stamas says another concern are plastic toys that contain the chemical phthalates. She says one brand called “Sassy” makes what’s called “Baby’ First Book” that’s labeled phthalate free, but she says testing has found the chemical in the book despite the label.
One of the toys that remains on the bad list is the water yo-yo — which is banned in some foreign countries and the state of Illinois. She says the consumer product safety commission hasn’t banned the toy, “despite a number of complaints from parents over the past few years that the toy has been wrapped around children’s necks and also linked to other eye, head and facial injuries.”
Stamas says the Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that three-fourths of the 210-thousand people who sought treatment in hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries in 2004 were younger than 15. Sixteen children died from toy-related injuries last year. For the complete 20th annual report, surf to:www.iowapirg.org.