Annual ‘Trouble in Toyland’ Report Released

Jeff Holloway, M.D., and Sara Sheehan, M.D., release the list of recalled toys and provide tips for shoppers to help them avoid purchasing unsafe toys for loved ones this holiday season. Img: Matt Perron

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) – During a news conference Tuesday pediatricians with Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital released the findings of the 31st annual ‘Trouble in Toyland’ report.

The ‘Trouble in Toyland’ report includes a full list of recalled toys, shopping tips and recommendations for what consumers should do if they have the recalled toys in their homes.

“We should be able to trust that the toys we buy are safe, however, until that is the case, parents and toy shoppers should know that recalled toys still can be found online and may already be in children’s homes. It is illegal to sell a recalled product under Consumer Product Safety Commission rules, but the report shows that recalled toys are being sold to unsuspecting consumers online,” said Holloway.

The report is compiled by the Connecticut Public Interest Research Group.

Key findings from the report include:

• Toys with concentrations of toxins exceeding federal standards.
• Despite a ban on small parts in toys for children under three, we found toys available in stores that still pose choking hazards.
• We discovered small powerful magnets that pose a dangerous threat to children if swallowed.

Over the past eight years, stronger rules have helped get some of the most dangerous toys and children’s products off the market. Improvements made in 2008’s Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act tightened lead limits and phased out dangerous phthalates. However, not all toys comply with the law, and holes in the toy safety net remain.

For toys you already own:

• Remove small batteries if there is any question over their security or inaccessibility and keep them out of reach of children;
• Put small parts, or toys broken into small parts, out of reach. Regularly check that toys appropriate for your older children are not left within reach of children who still put things in their mouths.

The 31st Annual Survey of toy Safety Report

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