As the holiday shopping season takes off, organizations are warning consumers to watch out for toys that can pose hazards to children.
World Against Toys Causing Harm (W.A.T.C.H.) released a list of the year’s 10 worst toys, which range from xylophones to replica guns.
“Our goal with the 10 Worst Toys list is to help families make informed choices and keep kids safe,” said Joan E. Siff, W.A.T.C.H. president, in a statement.
According to a report from U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG), online shopping and foreign imports have flooded the market with inexpensive products that often don’t meet U.S. safety standards.
That’s because, when bought online, the product is shipped directly to shoppers from another country, bypassing inspection. If the products are shipped in bulk from abroad — to be sold through an online or brick-and-mortar retailer — a loophole for so-called “de minimis,” or low value packages, allows many inexpensive products to fall below the threshold requiring examination.
In the last decade, the number of international shipments claiming to be exempt from inspection has surged from 140 million a year to 1 billion, or nearly 3 million shipments per day. Even if regulators do uncover a problem, whether from their own investigators or through consumers or retailers, they have little power to stop the online sales or take the sellers to court. Toys that were recalled months or even years ago are often still easily available online, with no warning.
Toys that don’t meet safety standards can contain lead and other toxins and pose choking or other hazards. Every year, the United States sees 150,000 or more toy-related deaths and injuries treated in emergency rooms among children 14 and younger.
U.S. PIRG suggests shoppers should:
- Take caution when ordering online and realize that online purchases are riskier, as there’s not much transparency and returns can be more difficult or impossible.
- Aim to purchase from known, trusted sellers or the trademark holder of the product.
- Research unknown companies, and take time to read reviews about the seller and the product.
- Look at the return policy. If it’s a new item and returns aren’t accepted, that can be a red flag.
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