February 7, 2008

Crazy (it's just) 8; Few states can ban recalled toys

The craziest thing I learned this week is that only eight states ban the sale of recalled products. Currently stores are not required to pulled recalled toys from store shelves because it's not illegal to sell recalled toys! The states are: Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Louisiana, Arkansas, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Vermont . State Rep. James Vallee is hoping to add Massachussetts to the list. His MASSPIRG-backed bill would require the Department of Public Health to maintain a list of items deemed unsafe and to distribute the list to pediatricians and day care centers. Lawmakers in Connecticut and Oregon are also working on a similar bill.

Just one word for you: phthlates
The future turned out to have a whole lot of plastics in it. And today we're struggling with phthalates, a chemical added to plastic to make it softer. But manufacturers of lotions, powders, and baby shampoos don't have to disclose its presents on the labels, even when they know that phthalates are in there products. Research suggests the chemical can disrupt the endocrine system in animals by interfering with hormones, particularly testosterone. Last year California passed a historic ban on toys with phthalates and required manufacturers to disclose whether children's personal-care products contain the chemicals. The Washington State Legislature is now debating House Bill 2647, which would ban some phthalates in children's products.

Lawmakers Pressure Fisher Price
Our national lawmakers are following in your footsteps. Many of you emailed Fisher Price in December, asking them to pull toy blood pressure cuffs off shelves across the country instead of just in Illinois. Last week, more than 50 lawmakers signed a letter to Mattel, the parent company of Fisher Price, to ask them to do the same.

More News You Don't Want to Toy With

Parents frustrated over recall delays
Channel 6 ABC News in New Jersey reports on how some parents are frustrated over recall delays. Andrew Hartung of the Hartung family in the video is also taking his fight to Capitol Hill .

Safety agency slow to report hazards
In a report issued by Public Citizen, researchers found that the companies that were fined took an average of 2.7 years to inform the CPSC of problems with their products. Once that happens it takes almost seven months for them to inform the public of those dangerous products.

Is lead the tip of the iceberg?
The Center for Environmental Health and other investigators have found lead in virtually every category of children's products tested. The center's director, Michael Green, points out that there are scores of other chemicals in children's products that we haven't tested as thoroughly as lead...

County provides free lead testing
The Lead-Free Douglas County task force is offering free lead testing at the Housing Expo in Duluth, MN on March 8.

Are your pets in peril of lead poisoning?
No one is certain of the effect of lead on pets, but when dogs or cats not only lick but swallow toys, lead could be a much bigger deal.