Shoppers Can Avoid and Report Toy Dangers on Store Shelves

One consumer advocacy group warned there is trouble in toy land and hopes a new interactive smart phone web site will help in the fight.

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group (P.I.R.G.)   has released its annual "Trouble in Toy Land" report.  It makes parents aware of the hazardous toys which could be on the market and may end up in the hands of a child.

"..This report has lead to at least a 140 recalls and other actions to get dangerous toys off store shelves." says P.I.R.G's Liz Hitchcock.

The organization said toys make the list if they're too loud, could potentially choke a child, include hazardous levels of lead or a toxic chemical called phthalates .

Hitchcock says "..These chemicals are used to make plastic softer and they've been connected to adverse reproductive and developmental health effects. Children are most vulnerable to those health effects."

The consumer group said no matter how much research is conducted, more can be done in the fight to keep unsafe toys off the market.  They've introduced a new interactive smart phone web site to help in the fight.  It will help toy shoppers avoid and report the dangers they find on store shelves.

"..This fall, PIRG's researchers still found hazards on store shelves. Consumers shopping for children should watch chocking and toxic hazards in stores and to help them do that we're launching a new mobile site so that you can keep toy safety at your finger tips.  toysafety.mobi . Consumers can also use the mobile site to tell us about a toy they think is unsafe." said Hitchcock.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission oversees recalls, including those which involve children's safety.

CPSC's Bob Adler said "..I can't really comment about any of the things in the report. We're the government and have to proceed cautiously. But, I can tell you that we appreciate the spirit of PIRG in sharing the information with us early on and I can assure you, we are investigating and following up on these concerns."

For more information about the web site, go to toysafety.mobi

Spread the word about toy safety:

Sign up for toy safety alerts, and spread the word to others by clicking here .

Check out the interactive toy tool and report potentially dangerous toys here .

Also, if you suspect you have a toxic or otherwise dangerous toy or any unsafe product (coffeemaker, lawn mower, etc.), you can report it to the CPSC either online at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html or over the phone at Toll-free Consumer Hotline: 800-638-2772 (TTY 800-638-8270). Send a copy of your report to info@uspirg.org .