Comments (5)

By Mom Unplugged, November 8, 2007 12:55 pm

Yet again, I am the last person on the planet to learn of something.

Last night I wrote a post about the latest toy recalls. The extent of my research involved checking the CPSC toy recall page, seeing if we had any of the recalled toys, and cutting and pasting the links to my post. Well, that’ll teach me to not carefully read the recall notices…and to not let my kids make way to much noise during the NPR newscast…and to not toss the newspaper into the recycle bin unread.

I should have read the Aqua Dots recall more closely before simply mentally filing it away as “just another choking hazard.” Not that the recall notice gives the whole story, mind you.

Why do I think I can inform people of the latest news when I myself am as informed about the affairs of Earth as a Martian on sabbatical to Pluto? Anyhow, thanks to a comment on yesterday’s Weekly Lead Paint Post, I have been abruptly brought back from Pluto with a bang and a puff of pink smoke. (Thanks Earthling Karen!).

Here’s the latest toy horror, that you have all heard about already no doubt:

Aqua Dots (“Bindeez Beads” in Australia) have a chemical coating that, when swallowed and metabolized, converts itself to the “date rape” drug GHB (gamma-hydroxy butyrate for any chemists out there). Lovely.

Honestly my first thought was that this was some sort of apocryphal internet rumor like used hypodermic needles dripping with heroin found in McDonald’s ball pits, or spider eggs as the main ingredient of chewing gum. But apparently it is legit. CNN says:

Scientists have found the popular toy’s coating contains a chemical that, once metabolized, converts into the toxic “date rape” drug GHB, or gamma-hydroxy butyrate, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission spokesman Scott Wolfson told CNN.

“GHB is this drug that in low doses actually causes euphoria,” said Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent. “In higher doses, it can cause people to go into a coma. It can cause seizures. It can cause something known as hypotonia, where all your muscles just become very flaccid.”

Listen to NPR’s stories from today:

Aqua Dots Recall Challenges Consumer Safety in US

and

Toys Recalled for Lead, GHB

What is one to say about this? I am speechless. May I go back to Pluto now please?

Comments (4)

By Mom Unplugged, November 7, 2007 8:38 pm

Unfortunately this lead paint post has become a weekly event. But here are some new toys that are affected by the recall. A few are nice wooden “unplugged toys” that I would actually have bought (but fortunately didn’t). Four are made by Schylling, a brand I really like. How sad.

Schylling Associates Recalls Collectable Toy Robot Due To Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Schylling Associates Recalls Dizzy Ducks Music Box Due To Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Additional Spinning Top Recalled by Schylling Associates Due To Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Schylling Associates Recalls Duck Family Collectable Toy Due To Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Toy Cars Recalled by Dollar General Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

International Sourcing Ltd. Recalls Toy Dragster and Funny Car Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Toy Figures Recalled by Henry Gordy International Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Toys “R” Us Recalls Elite Operations Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

SimplyFun Recalls Ribbit Board Games Due to Risk of Lead Exposure

And a few more recalls for other reasons:
Laugh & Learn™ Kitchen Toys Recalled by Fisher-Price Due To Choking Hazard

Swimways Corp. Recalls “Skippy” Pool Toys Due to Laceration Hazard

Spin Master Recalls Aqua Dots – Children Became Unconscious After Swallowing Beads

All links and photos are from the CPSC website.

Comments (2)

By Mom Unplugged, November 1, 2007 1:50 pm

A recent check of the CPSC website revealed a whole new list of recalled toys due to lead paint:

Comments (1)

By Mom Unplugged, October 10, 2007 7:12 pm

Cub Scouts Totem Badges have been recalled because: “The surface paints on the badges contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.”

The badges are manufactured by Kahoot Products. Parents are instructed to remove badges from uniform and keep away from children. The company will offer a free replacement badge.

For more details on this recall, please refer to the CPSC press release.

Also: Starbucks has recalled children’s plastic animal cups due to choking and laceration hazard. Read more here.

Comments (8)

By Mom Unplugged, October 4, 2007 6:59 pm

I just heard on NPR news this evening, that today there were yet more toy recalls due to lead paint. This is the link to the CPSC toy recall list, however as of this evening, the latest recalls are not on the list, so here are direct links to the new recalls in detail:

Kids II Recalls Baby Einstein Color Blocks Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Baby Einstein Discover & Play Color Blocks - soft fabric blocks)

Children’s Decorating Sets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard; Sold Exclusively at Toys “R” Us (“Totally Me” Funky Room Decor Set)

Dollar General Recalls Tumblers Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (Frankenstein Cups)

Eveready Battery Co. Recalls Toy Flashlights Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard (“Pirates of the Caribbean” squeeze-type flashlight)

Target Recalls Plush Boys Rattles Due to Choking Hazard (Rattles are a white baseball with red stitching, a brown football with white stitching, and an orange basketball with black stitching)

I don’t think any parent would disagree that this is appalling and disheartening. I wonder how many toys we own that violate lead paint standards? Every time I see the baby put a toy in her mouth, I cringe and ask myself that question. No matter how high-quality you think your toys are, you just never really know for sure.