Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warns parents that there could be hidden dangers in toys on their holiday list. | Wikimedia Commons
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warns parents that there could be hidden dangers in toys on their holiday list. | Wikimedia Commons
As Michigan parents prepare to buy toys for their children over the holidays, Attorney General Dana Nessel released a consumer alert about toy safety on Michigan.gov, telling residents about the possibility of dangerous toys on store shelves.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the government agency that is responsible for shielding the public from unintentional hazards connected with toys and other items that are designed for children.
The CPSC inspection experts review and prevent unsafe toys from reaching the store shelves. However, Michigan.gov says that during the months of April through September 2020, CPSC was required to remove inspectors from their posts around the country to curb the spread of COVID-19. This effort limited the usual duties of the agency.
Because the inspection system was temporarily suspended, parents should use discretion when purchasing toys for their kids.
“Parents must exercise caution when purchasing toys for children this year, as some of the traditional safety protocols that we’ve become accustomed to may have been compromised due to COVID-19,” Nessel said, according to Michigan.gov. “My office is committed to protecting consumers from a variety of concerns, and I urge anyone who’s shopping for toys to do their research and review the guides and tips on how to safely make purchases. There is a lot of information to help consumers this holiday season, including my office’s 2020 Dangerous Toy Guide.”
According to Nessel, children’s products may not look hazardous initially. However, if any toy is small enough to be swallowed, the end result could be either serious harm or even death.
Additionally, lead paint on a toy is not noticeable and can't be seen with the naked eye, but lead is distinctly toxic to people. Another example is the degree of fire resistance of children's clothes. Parents aren't capable of conducting the proper fire resistance testing on baby and toddler pajamas and other apparel items.
If parents notice anything hazardous about a toy or children’s product, they are advised to report it immediately on the CPSC website. Michiganders can also file a complaint directly with Nessel's office.
Alerts Sign-up