• View ecochildsplay’s profile on Facebook
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Twitter
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Instagram
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Pinterest
  • View Jennifer Lance’s profile on LinkedIn
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on YouTube
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Google+

Eco Child's Play

Live a greener, healthier life!

  • Environment
  • Pregnancy
  • Food & Recipes
  • Health News
  • Parenting
  • Green Toys
  • Beauty & Beauty Products
  • Green Home & Cleaning
  • Contact

Update: Toy Recalls and the CPSC

mattel-lead-toy-fisher-price.jpgIf you are like me, you are tired of hearing about toy recalls and the gross failures of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to protect our children; however, I feel it is important to stay updated on the information for my children’s sakes.  Recent news on the Thomas the Tank Engine recall settlement, Mattel’s refusal to recall lead-tainted toys,  and the impotent CPSC demonstrate that the problem of toy safety and international manufacturing has not gone away.

The Impotent CPSC

I have written many posts on the CPSC’s failures.  Now, for the second time in a year, the agency will become useless, as it loses its quorum.  The CPSC requires three members on the panel; however, only two members are currently holding positions. The extension granted by Congress to operate with only two members expired in January.  According to the Washington Post,

Congress has not passed another one, and the Bush administration has not nominated a new chairman who could restore quorum since its last pick, industry lobbyist Michael E. Baroody, withdrew his name in May after protest by Senate Democrats and consumer groups.

Of course, the agency can still oversee voluntary recalls, but they can no longer issue mandatory recalls or impose civil penalties.   What a relief…I feel so protected!

Thomas the Tank Engine Recall Settlement

Oh, Thomas the Tank Engine, the toy that brought lead-tainted recalls to the middle and upper class society.   RC2, the company that makes Thomas, has agreed to pay a $30 million to settle a nationwide class-action lawsuit.  Consumers have been offered cash refunds and replacements for their lead painted toys, as well as a bonus toy.  Ironically, the bonus toy Toad sent to 2000 families contained lead levels up to four times higher than acceptable levels and was thus recalled.  I think I’ll take the cash.

Mattel’s Refuses to Recall Lead-Tainted Toy

Thank goodness the CPSC has the power to oversee voluntary recalls, since Mattel has refused to issue voluntarily recall of a Fisher-Price plastic toy blood-pressure cuff toy sold with lead levels at eight times the legal limit. As Treehugger explains,

Granted, they did begin accepting them back from any retailer or customer nationwide who called a toll-free number beginning in December along with a recall in Illinois, but they did not recall the toy nationwide nor widely publicize the problem as they would have been required to do under the guidelines of an official recall.

Once again, children in Illinois are offered more protection than the rest of the country. Thank goodness for voluntary recalls!  As quoted in the New York Times, Donald Mays, senior director of product safety at Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports, explains,  “If it was an official recall, the Consumer Product Safety Commission would be tracking the return rate.  Now you’re just taking the company’s word for it.”

Once again, I remind parents to get to know the toy company’s values, beliefs, social responsibility, etc. before purchasing toys for your children. It is incredible to me that we are even having this discussion about toy safety in this country, but until there is more oversight in the globalization of toy production, the problem will not go away. Local or green toy companies are the only way to protect your children.  The CPSC won’t do it for  you!

Image courtesy of Treehugger. 

  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • More
  • WhatsApp
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Subscribe!

« Barbie Doll Art: 32,000 Boob Jobs a Month
Nursery Water Not Good For Babies – Bottled Water With Added Fluoride Under Fire »

Comments

  1. Jennifer Lance says

    February 6, 2008 at 12:25 pm

    Just read this editorial on the CPSC in today’s NY Times:
    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/opinion/06wed4.html?th&emc=th

    Reply
  2. MC Milker says

    February 11, 2008 at 5:20 am

    Goodness – this is getting ridiculous!

    Reply
  3. Shari Hull says

    August 12, 2008 at 7:42 am

    I would like to comment on your website AND Treehugger’s:

    I think we all should be concerned about our children’s safety, but do we really need to keep pillows and blankets out of our babies’ cribs? And what about baby sleep positioners? We practically NEED those for our babies so that they won’t have abnormally shaped heads when they grow up.

    So, don’t you think that you’re taking this “child safety” a little too far?

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Made in USA toys » Blog Archive » Update: Toy Recalls and the CPSC says:
    February 6, 2008 at 8:46 pm

    […] Original post by Jennifer Lance […]

    Reply
  2. Childhood Lead Poisoning Leads to Life of Violent Crime : Eco Child’s Play says:
    January 11, 2009 at 8:22 pm

    […] of the most serious environmental problems facing America’s children.  There has also been a flurry of toy recalls due to lead in paint over the past couple of […]

    Reply
  3. Confused About Product Recalls? : Eco Child’s Play says:
    January 22, 2009 at 8:07 pm

    […] is a lot of confusion regarding product recalls.  Often different news organizations, blogs, the CPSC, and companies have conflicting information about […]

    Reply
  4. Confused About Product Recalls? | Eco Friendly Mag says:
    January 23, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    […] is a lot of confusion regarding product recalls.  Often different news organizations, blogs, the CPSC, and companies have conflicting information about […]

    Reply
  5. CPSC Fines Mattel Record $2.3M Over Lead-Laden Toys says:
    December 14, 2009 at 10:02 pm

    […] the corporation is paying the price. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commision, the $2.3 million fine is the highest levied against a toy company. Thomas Moore, the acting […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search Content

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter


About Eco Child’s Play

Our ethos is to provide news, information, and opinions on natural, green parenting to help your family live a greener, healthier life! Additionally, we offer personal consulting services to help you achieve your green living goals.

Jennifer is a vegetarian, yoga teacher, gardener, hiker, teacher, and mother that has been living off-the-grid for over 20 years.

Contact Eco Child’s Play

Plants Over Plastics! Repurpose Compostable Home Products

Convenient Plastic Container Free Dropps Laundry & Dishwashing Pods

More from the archives!

SipSnap: Universal sippy cup and straw lids for any cup!

Great Green Gifts! Shawl Wallah Pashmina Shawls from Kashmir

Fair Trade, Organic Kids Fashion by Indigenous Designs

Save the Illinois Poison Control

Non-Toxic Teethers by Natursutten

cbd salve joy organics

CBD Products that Actually Deliver: Joy Organics

wama hemp underwear

The Most Comfortable Underwear is Made of Hemp: WAMA Review

Information

  • About & Contact
  • Archive
  • Blog
  • Consulting Services
  • Disclaimer, Disclosure, & Sponsored Posts
  • Privacy Policy

California Victory! Governor Brown Signs Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Law

Even Susan G. Komen is Pinkwashing

christmas traditions

5 Fun Christmas Traditions Around the World

Pizza Party! It's Easy, Yummy, Healthy and… Homemade??

5 Green Products: Smartwool, Klean Kanteen, Britax, Licefree Everday, Out of Africa

Popular Categories

  • Breastfeeding
  • Health News
  • Natural Childbirth
  • Parenting
  • Education
  • Product Review
  • Green Toys

Get our posts via email

Please stay in touch!

You might also like to read…

Eco Trips for Families

Reduce Chemicals to Increase Fertility

My Favorite Eco Wooden Blocks: Tegu Summer Building Contest and Giveaway!!!

Don’t Buy These Attachment Parenting Products Alleges Consumer Reports

Your Children: Green Super Heroes

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 · Divine Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.