Recalls

The recurrence of many known hazards in toys recalled is suggestive of a broken system that needs fixing before more children are harmed.  Toys available for sale continue to be recalled for a wide range of defects, such as a metal wire in the staff of a shepherd boy plush toy that, if exposed, could lacerate a child,  a toy water blaster containing lead that is a known toxin, and high-powered magnet balls that, if swallowed, could link together causing intestinal obstructions, perforations, sepsis and death; there is clearly more to be done to protect children. Many toys recalled contain types of hazards, such as choking and lead poisoning risks, that have been well-known to the toy industry for years. In one recent twelve-month period, the CPSC announced 14 toy recalls representing more than ten million (10,000,000) units of toys in the U.S. that could lead to serious injuries or death. While recalls are important safety measures, they are reactive not proactive. Recent CPSC toy recalls highlight the importance of making sure products are safe BEFORE reaching retail outlets. Immediate action is needed when the risk of child injury or death is known, so that more children are not unnecessarily put in harm’s way. At the time of a recall, a toy may already be in the hands of unsuspecting children who are put at risk of suffering serious, even life-threatening injuries. Many consumers never receive notice of toy recalls. Once these toys are on the market, they can reappear in stores, online, at your child’s school, or at a neighbor’s home. Further, it’s important when choosing toys to remember not all unsafe toys are necessarily recalled; enforcement agencies, such as the CPSC, may have limited resources to police such a large industry, existing standards can be inadequate, and regulators often scramble to keep up with emerging technologies. Unfortunately, even toys that are in compliance with current industry or regulatory standards have proven to be hazardous, further demonstrating the inadequacy of existing standards.

Recent Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls:

Listed below are recent toy recalls from the CPSC. For a complete list of recalls, including other children’s recreational products, go to https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls