Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warns parents that there could be hidden dangers in toys on their holiday list. | freestocks.org/Pexels
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warns parents that there could be hidden dangers in toys on their holiday list. | freestocks.org/Pexels
As parents purchase toys for their children over the holidays, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released a consumer alert on toy safety, warning residents of potentially dangerous toys, according to Michigan.gov.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the government agency that is in charge of protecting the general public against the dangers associated with toys and other products designed for children.
The CPSC inspectors review and prevent hazardous toys from reaching the store shelves. However, Michigan.gov says that during the months of April through September, CPSC was forced to pull inspectors from their posts around the country due to the COVID-19 crisis, hindering the proper functioning of the agency.
Nessel says that the inspection process was affected and parents should use caution when buying toys for their children.
“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 the toy is ingested, the results could be either serious injury or death.
Additionally, lead paint on a toy is invisible to the naked eye, but it is extremely poisonous to humans. Another example is the degree of fire resistance of children's clothing. Parents aren't able to conduct fire resistance testing on baby and toddler pajamas, as well as other items of clothing.
If parents notice any issues with a toy or children’s product they have, they are encouraged to report it immediately on the CPSC website. Michiganders can also file a complaint online with Nessel's office.
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