‘Trouble in Toyland’ report warns parents to avoid certain products

PITTSBURGH — An independent advocacy group has released its 36th annual “Trouble in Toyland” report, warning shoppers to avoid certain purchases as we approach the holidays.

PennPIRG hosted a news conference Thursday in which it warned parents to be especially cautious while online shopping.

Counterfeit or knockoff toys are most often sold on the internet and can pose a real danger to children. In many instances, these toys skirt safety tests, and they can even contain lead or toxic chemicals, the group said.

Recalled toys can sometimes pop up from online sellers on sites like eBay, PennPIRG warns. Shoppers can review a list of recalled toys on saferproducts.gov.

“With the pandemic and supply chain problems prompting even more online shopping than before, it’s more important now than ever for gift buyers to recognize potential safety hazards for the children on their holiday lists,” said PennPIRG advocate Emma Horst-Martz.

Horst-Martz says shoppers should carefully scrutinize online sellers. Conduct research and read reviews. If a price is especially low, it could be too good to be true.

The advocacy group’s list of concerning toys also features products that can be so noisy they hurt a young, developing child’s hearing.

Certain smart toys, too, can pose privacy risks.

‘Trouble in Toyland’ report warns parents to avoid certain products

Small toys and toys with small parts can also pose huge risks if ingested. Horst-Martz said that these tiny products should not be marketed to children ages 2 and younger. Small toys for kids ages 3 to 5 must include a safety label, but they often don’t.

“The most common and most concerning injuries we see here at the trauma center come from choking hazards ... the button batteries ... magnets and toys with wheels,” said Penn State Children’s Hospital nurse Amy Bollinger.

She advises that parents provide safe oversight to children.

PennPIRG’s annual reports have led to more than 150 toy recalls. Following the release of the report, Channel 11 received a response from The Toy Association, which told said:

“Fails to mention that U.S. toy safety requirements are among the strictest in the world. All toys sold in the United States, no matter where they are produced, must conform to rigorous safety standards and laws.”

The Toy Association called the report “misleading,” claiming that the report includes certain items that are not toys and thus undermine “the toy industry’s deep and ongoing commitment to safety. These non-toy items include adult magnets, latex balloons, gaming consoles, and batteries found in household products, all of which are not subject to the same rigorous standards as toys.”

The Toy Association did however agree that “counterfeit toys lurking online have the potential to be unsafe and should be avoided at all costs.”