In 2007, more than 25 million toys were recalled due to the risks posed to children by lead paint or loose magnets that can lodge in a child’s throat.
“Unfortunately, we weren’t surprised by the recalls,” said Florida PIRG Consumer Advocate Brad Ashwell. “Our annual toy safety report in 2006 uncovered four toys with lead levels ranging from 1.8 percent to 34 percent lead by weight.”
Why so many recalls? Unsafe toys made it to store shelves because toy manufacturers failed to ensure their own products’ safety. In part, that’s because our government routinely lets manufacturers off the hook.
Our government spends less on product safety than ever before, even as globalization has fundamentally changed the way that products get to store shelves.
Toy manufacturers are already pushing Congress to allow voluntary standards with fewer penalties.
That’s why Florida PIRG is pushing our congressional delegation to approve legislation that would give the Consumer Product Safety Commission the funding and authority it needs to hold toy manufacturers accountable.
