Defective Toys’ Category
Defective Children’s Toys Seized at Houston Port
Wednesday, January 25th, 2012
Federal consumer safety investigators have seized more than 25,000 defective children's toys at the Port of Houston, more than any other consumer product imported into this country. Those toys included a number of hazards, ranging from choking and strangulation hazards to lead poisoning risks.
The approximately 25,000 toys that were seized were part of 117,000 foreign products that were seized at the Port of Houston between 2010 and 2011. These recalled products included lighters, mattresses, and electronic devices.
The Port of Houston is one of the busiest ports in the country, and not surprisingly, 19 federal investigators have been assigned to...
Company to Pay $600,000 for Failure to Report Defective Toys
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011
Build-A-Bear Workshop has agreed to pay $600,000 in penalties to federal safety regulators to settle charges that the company failed to report defects in its toy beach chairs.
The company will pay the money to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. According to the allegations against the company, Build-A-Bear Workshop failed to notify the Consumer Product Safety Commission when it became aware of a defect in its product. The defect involves sharp edges on the beach chair’s wooden frame. The sharp edges can cause cuts, lacerations and other wounds. They can even be severe enough to amputate a child’s...
Report Indicates High Risk of Choking, Noise, Toxic Exposure Hazards in Children’s Toys
Thursday, November 24th, 2011
The US Public Interest Research Group has released its annual survey of toy safety Trouble in Toyland. The report finds that children still continue to be at risk from toys that contain toxic chemicals, or conceal choking or noise hazards.
The surveyors found several toys on the market that contain excessively high levels of lead and phthalates. Lead has been found to contribute to neurological delays in children. Phthalates have been linked to premature delivery and reproductive disorders.
The survey also found toys that concealed choking hazards, or failed to warn parents and consumers about choking hazards. The surveyors also included...
Toy-Related Recalls Are Down, but Still Far Too Many Injuries Every Year
Thursday, November 17th, 2011
Parents in Houston and around Texas will soon begin poring through shopping lists, looking for the perfect gift for little ones. Safety obviously will be a priority for these buyers. The good news is that the number of recalls involving toys in the United States is down. The bad news is that last year, more than 181,000 children were taken to hospital emergency rooms with a toy-related injury.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2010, 181,500 children were injured in toy-related accidents, and had to be taken to hospital ERs. The children were below 15 years...
Spin Master Fined $1.3 Million for Selling Tainted Toys
Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
Toymaker Spin Master, which distributed the Aqua Craft Kit toys inside the United States, has agreed to pay $1.3 million in fines to the Consumer Product Safety Commission to settle allegations that the company continued to sell its Aqua Craft Kits even after receiving reports of injuries and illnesses.
The Aqua Craft Kits contain small beads that stick together when water is poured on them. The company soon began to receive reports of children who became severely ill after they ingested the tiny beads. At least two children went into a coma in October 2007. It was only after these...
