Guidecraft Play Theater Recalled for Entrapment Hazard

Jason Fien, president of Guidecraft, Inc. is celebrating the company’s 46th year in the industry. This educational toy manufacturer began in 1964 with a line of 10 wooden toys, growing year by year to an expansive list of over 850 products, including children’s furniture. But today the birthday celebration was dampened by a product safety recall of 2,150 units of their 4-in-1 Dramatic Play Theater. Sold across the USA and Canada, the two recalled products were manufactured in China at the Mega Profit Trading Ltd, factory.

Guidecraft has received a couple of consumer reports about the units tipping over during use and causing injuries to the child. The unit weighs about 46 pounds when assembled. Young children, who may not be strong enough to lift the product, can become entrapped under the fallen panels.

The recall involves only the 4-in-1 Dramatic Play Theater, model G51062. This theater has the model number visible in the assembly guide and on a label located at the bottom of the center crossbar. As shown in these photos from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the theater has interchangeable side panels allowing the user to change the theme of the theater from a puppet theater, to a café, to a medical office, and finally to a post office.

Consumers would have purchased the units through mail order catalogs, Internet retailer sites, or at Guidecraft.com from July 2010 and through April 2011. Guidecraft is offering a refund or replacement product , so contact them immediately via phone at (888) 824-1308, or through their website at www.guidecraft.com .

Health Canada press release can be found here.

CPSC safety alert can be found here.

Comment:  It is common for the general public to jump to the conclusion that because this product was produced in China, blame is naturally placed on the Chinese manufacturer. However, consumers should be aware that most products made at Chinese factories, for American companies, are designed and produced according to specs from the American importer. Of course this is not always the case, but the great majority of Chinese factories are following outlines given to them by their customer.  It is the responsibility of the importer to assure that the design is properly tested for safe function, chemical content, and durability under normal and foreseeable use.  As an informed parent, always be sure you feel comfortable with the stability of ANY freestanding play unit before purchasing it for your child.  Children's play patterns can dramatically impact the safe use of a product, and heavy pieces that can fall over if one or more portion of their support pieces is dislodged during play should be considered risky.  The weight and stability of a play unit are both important factors to consider before purchasing a free-standing product.

When will deadly hazard of drawstrings be taken seriously?

The safety guidelines for hooded-jackets with drawstrings has been out for 15 years now, and yet we still see youth jackets being recalled for neck and waist drawstrings. [See March 2011 blog on Fashions and Drawstrings Don't Mix] One wonders what it takes to really educate consumers, retailers, importers and manufacturers about the strangulation hazard posed by these drawstrings.

Recently the CPSC and the Boy Scouts of America announced that they were pulling back 5,400 blue, youth-sized, long-sleeved Cub Scout Wind Tech Jackets manufactured with retractable cords with toggles at both the neck and waist. The jackets included in the recall have the numbers 73291, 73292, or 73293 printed on a retail hangtag attached to the jacket.  The jackets were sold from November 2009 through July 2011 exclusively through Boy Scouts of America retail stores across the nation, as well as their website store at www.scoutstuff.org.  

Cub Scout Wind Tech Jacket

Consumers who purchased one or more of these jackets should immediately & completely remove the drawstrings. Boys Scouts of America can also be contacted for refund if desired. Reach them by phone at (855) 873-2408.

In 1996, CPSC issued safety guidelines for the safe design of hoodies and youth jackets that eliminated drawstrings altogether. Early in 2011 CPSC reinforced these guidelines by voting to approve these voluntary guidelines as a new federal rule. The safety Commission stressed that these drawstring guidelines were issued to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled in the drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts. Strangulations on playgrounds and with moving vehicles have been cited over the years for serious injury and even death.

Drawstring youth hoodies
sold at Macy's

Since 1985, at least 22 children have died from entanglement of clothing hood and neckline drawstrings.  More than 50% of these drawstring entanglement incidents involved playground slides.

In October 2011, Macy's was penalized to the tune of $750,000 for “knowing” selling hoodies, jackets and other youth fashions with drawstrings between 2006 and 2011. These jackets were sold at Macy's Bloomngdale's, and Robinson-May stores across the USA. In the agreement, Macys denies they violated the law.

Sunsations

In September 2011, Sunsations Incorporated was hit with a $60,000 civil penalty for selling fifteen hundred youth sweatshirts at their Sunsations retail stores in Virginia, North Carolina and Massachusetts.  These sweatshirts were the topic of recalls in 2009 and 2011. 
Is it possible that after almost fifteen years of enforcing this clothing guideline, clothing buyers and designers in the USA are still aware of the safety concern with drawstrings in youth clothing?  

What do you think could be done to get the message out more clearly to manufacturers, importers, retailers and even consumers? Leave your comment below to start the discussion.

ACTION STEP:
When in a retail store, consignment shop, garage sale, or thrift shop and one of these hazards is discovered, bring it to the attention of the retail store owner.  Protect children by being proactive and spreading the word.  

Halloween Safety Do's & Dont's

The nation’s leading authority on consumer product safety, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reminds parents and caregivers about safety on Halloween.  

Injuries on this day and evening will likely include children falling due to unlit paths or costumes that restricts their ability to walk freely, to serious burns from open flames of Halloween lights mixed with flammable fabrics. In fact, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says that Halloween is among the top 5 days of the year for candle-related fires.  

To avoid these hazards and enjoy a fund, safe holiday, read the Consumer Product Safety Commissions latest list of do’s and don’t on Halloween.

CPSC’s  Halloween safety check (pdf)

CPSC’s Pumpkin carving safety tips are found here.

Effort underway to reduce cadmium in children's jewelry

In 2010-2011 alone, hundreds of thousands of children’s jewelry products have found their way to the trash compacter before they were able to adorn the young children they were created for. That’s because they contained significantly high levels of cadmium, a chemical that is a known human carcinogen, and has been linked to other health problems, as well. Although there is not yet a federal standard for cadmium limits in children’s jewelry, many U.S. states have enacted their own strict limits. The diversity among these state standards has created headaches for jewelry manufacturers who must either meet the strictest standard and sell their jewelry in all US states, or limit the states in which they want their products to be marketed. Certainly such a choice has a dramatic impact on both small and large businesses in the current economy.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received several petitions from consumer advocate groups demanding that this nation’s leading authority on consumer product safety address the rising concern about cadmium in jewelry.  CPSC, who is heavily burdened under the weight of executing the many new requirements defined by Congress through the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), has struggled to attend to this issue as expeditiously as many consumer advocates would like. Although CPSC has continued to enforce recalls on cadmium-laden jewelry sets where discovered, mandated regulatory compliance seems necessary to dam the stream of hazardous jewelry products that often arrive at U.S. ports from foreign manufacturers like China.  

Photo: Cici Crib

The United States jewelry industry has recently agreed to set limits on the amount of cadmium that can be used in children’s necklaces, bracelets and rings that are intended for sale in the USA.  In reality, the jewelry manufacturers have little option but to do something to address this volatile consumer concern.  The industry has set the limit of cadmium at no more than 300ppm (0.03 percent by weight).  Any piece that exceeds that limit would be subject to more extensive testing before it could be sold in the marketplace. This limit reflects the limits set in several recent settlements with large retailers like Target Corporation. However, it is much higher than those set by Illinois (75ppm) or Connecticut (40ppm).

It may be that the industry is hoping that by taking this voluntary stance on cadmium safety in jewelry they would convince states that have stricter cadmium standards to take a step back on their newly enacted laws and grant the industry some grace.  But consumer groups and retailers are not likely to feel warm and fuzzy about lowering their existing expectations.

In response to the many consumer group petitions they have received, CPSC Commissioners have now tasked two specific groups with this responsibility  ASTM International, a well-respected standard-setting organization in the USA, has been given three months to develop and finalize voluntary cadmium safety guidelines in jewelry and toys.  If ASTM is able to publish a voluntary standard within that three-month time frame (December 16, 2011), the CPSC staff would then review those voluntary guidelines to assess whether they should become mandatory. CPSC would need to complete their assessment and make their recommendations no later than June 16, 2012 (nine months after September 16, 2011).

It is yet to be seen if ASTM can meet this very ambitious timeline, or if CPSC will need to pick up the baton.  In the meantime, all well-informed consumers would be wise to ask the retailer for documentation on the lead and cadmium content in the jewelry purchase being considered for young children. They won't have it, of course, but it is this kind of consumer demand that forces retailers to participate in the safety of our children, and not always play dumb. While it is smart to completely forgo this vanity-driven accessorizing of young children, those who indulge should be aware of the dangers to which they may be inadvertently be exposing their children The biggest risk is found in jewelry for little ones who tend to mouth, lick or swallow small parts.  Tongue studs or lip rings for older teens also carry a significant exposure risk. 

Pottery Barn Kids Recalls Soft Dolls to Address Strangulation Concern

Image from
Pottery Barn Kids

How many parents find it impossible to walk by a Pottery Barn Kids store, or avoid clicking on the Pottery Barn Kids website without stopping in for just a minute to see what adorable new product their creative team has come up with?  Pottery Barn Kids, a division of Williams-Sonoma Inc., of San Francisco, California began is canon of cuteness in 1999 when it produced it’s first mail order catalog filled with have-to-have furnishings, home goods and toys.  A year later they continued to reign supreme by opening their first retail location in the upscale Costa Mesa kingdom of South Coast Plaza.

Earlier this month, on September 8, 2011, Pottery Barn Kids found their crown slightly askew when they announced a recall of 81,000 soft dolls that go by the names of Audrey, Sophie and Chloe. It appears that the yarn hair on two of the dolls was not cut consistently.  This left some ends of the hair in a loop that ends up being large enough to allow a small child’s head to fit through the loop, settle around the child’s neck, creating a potential strangulation hazard. On the Audrey doll, the headband (if loose) can also form the same dangerous loop scenario. This strangulation hazard is addressed on the now federally-mandated toy safety specification ASTM F963. The problem was most likely created by a manufacturing error, and not a product design, but whatever the cause - the hazard remains and consumers need to be advised.

Audrey's head band issue; Chloe and Sophies' yarn hair loop issue
Photos: Pottery Barn Kids and CPSC

These adorable 17-inch stuffed dolls were sold for $40 at Pottery Barn Kids stores across the USA, through the PB Kids mail-order catalogs, and on the Pottery Barn Kids website  between July 2006 and April 2011.

Five customer complaints about the looped hair prompted the recall, including on incident with the Chloe doll, in which the loop was actually discovered around the neck of a toddler. Fortunately the child was not hurt, but it was enough to prompt the company to provide various options for customers:

1. Sophie and Chloe dolls: Take the dolls immediately away from children, check all of the ends of the yarn hair, and snip any looped ends to eliminate the hazard; and/or,
2.  Audrey doll: Remove the headband; or
3. Call Pottery Barn Kids at (855) 880-4504 to find out how to return the affected dolls for a merchandise credit; or
4. Access the recall on the Pottery Barn Kids website for instructions.

Note: Look for Health Canada's press release here. 

When Product Recalls Speak, but No One Listens

Kids in Danger is a consumer advocacy group that focuses on the issues of consumer and child safety, as well as children's product safety.  In an article posted on their website on September 1, 2011, they discussed their concerns with the low success rate of both voluntary or mandated product safety recalls.

Appalled by the diminutive effectiveness (less than 1%) of one individual corrective action plan summary for an infant play yard, the article continues to stress that a lot of work needs to be done to improve the safety of children's products in the marketplace today. Regarding product safety recalls, they suggest a three part solution to improving the performance of product safety alerts: 1)  Design safe products, 2) Submit the products to rigorous testing, and 3) Conduct effective recalls.  


It is very important to note that a product that is tested to any given toy or children's product safety standard at a third-party laboratory does not mean that the product is "safe."  Product safety is more than an "X" rubber stamped on a piece of paper. Let's be honest - How many consumers go into the local toy store and ask to see the test report that shows the product being considered for purchase has been properly tested?  How many would know how to read the report even if it was presented to them.  That's right, less than 1% would ask and even less would be able to interpret the report properly.  Consumers assume that a product on the store shelves has been tested and complies with the existing safety standards. 

Logo:  CPSC

In this day and age it is more likely than not that a children's product has been tested to the applicable safety standard.  Manufacturers, distributors, and even retailers should be sure that they are confident that the product they are offering to the public is as safe as possible. Product design, risk assessment for foreseeable use & misuse, consistent production quality, supply chain transparency, clear user instructions, suitable labeling (not over-labeling), packaging & marketing, caregiver vigilance and consumer knowledge of typical child development landmarks all play into children's product safety.  History shows that the majority of children's products recalled by CPSC did have the required physical and chemical lab testing completed at some point. Past that, any one of those aforementioned factors played into the scenario somehow to create an unintentional hazard.


Having designed and implemented several CPSC recalls myself, it could be said that the slow and minimal results mentioned in the KID article are actually much lower than normally experienced. Still, it is sadly true that if any corrective action plan gets a 25-28% effective rate it is considered acceptable.  That means that about 75% of the product in the hands of the consumer is in the "unknown zone."  It is either perfectly safe or potentially unsafe. The unknown zone is an uncomfortable place for any manufacturer. 

Photo: Fisher Price

To be honest, this miserable recall effectiveness rate is NOT always for lack of effort on the part of the manufacturer.  Past sending out letters to customers, website warnings, store posters, press releases and local news reports, a manufacturer relies on the responsiveness of the consumer. What is it saying about consumers of toys and children's products when, after all these attempts to educate them about the potential product hazard, they still look the other way?
Even listening to the typical sensationalistic and often inaccurate media reports of injury or deaths does not seem to be enough to hit home. KID recognizes an important factor. Child safety is often being left to a single press release and to the extent to which a manufacturer is able to notify their customers. 


They ask the question: "...how can manufacturers best reach you when a product is recalled?  What would make you take the time to participate in a recall?" 


You are invited to respond to that question by emailing Kids in Danger at email@KidsInDanger.org.

Radio Flyer Scoot 'n Zoom Ride-on Recalled

Photo: Radio Flyer/BestToys

In 1917, entrepreneur Antonio Pasin began handcrafting wooden wagons in a one-room workshop in Chicago, Illinois. From hand-made wood coasters, to all steel flyers, to the current day plastic molded ride-ons - these wagons have and still are “Made in the USA.”  Through the years, Radio Flyer has become known worldwide as the top dog in toy wagons. Who doesn’t have at least one childhood memory of racing wildly down a dangerously steep hill with your best friend screaming in your ear and hanging on for dear life?  Ah yes, those were the days when kids could actually play and scrap their knees and live to tell about it.

Roll the calendar forward to August 16, 2011.  CPSC and Radio Flyer have just announced a recall of model #711, the 165,000 of the Scoot ‘n Zoom children’s riding toy.  The problem: “The riding toy can tip over allowing a child to fall forward while riding, posing a fall hazard to young children.” (CPSC)   Who knew?

Unfortunately a few youngsters have been injured during their wild scooting and zooming activities.  Radio Flyer has received ten incident reports of the wagon tipping over un-expectantly. Three of those children have landed in such a way as to loosen their teeth, and three had cuts on the chin that required stitches.

Consumers who have purchased the Scoot ‘n Zoom between August 2010 and August 2011 should check to see if their wagon is included in this recall.

• Red molded plastic
• Black wheels
• 19” Long  x 11” wide x 13.5” Tall
• Model #711 (on label underneath the base)
• Sold for about $20 at retail stores like Walmart and Target, as well as online markets at Target.com and Amazon.com.

NOTE: Units with a yellow Model #711B sticker are not part of this recall. The newer #711B design has a longer body (21" vs. the original 19") that improves the overall stability of the ride-on.  

Consumers should stop using the model #711 immediately and contact Radio Flyer for a free replacement or refund.  Contact Radio Flyer at (800) 621-7613 (CT), or on their website at http://www.radioflyer.com.


For those of you who love the history of toys, My Little Red Wagon, is a great walk down memory lane from 1917 through present day.  Written & edited by the founder's sons.


For those looking for a sweet storybook for ages 3-6 years, this little picture book is a perfect choice.  

CPSC and Brazil Strengthen Safety Commitment

News out of Washington, D.C. today is that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) renewed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Brazil to improve consumer product safety.  The original USA/Brazilian MOU was established in 2008, and this new accord adds more energy to the recent surge of international efforts to implement effective product safety requirements worldwide. 

In a June 10^th meeting with the National Institute of Metrology, Standardization and Industrial Quality (Inmetro) and CPSC Chairman Inex Tenenbaum, an agreement was made to work more closely together to promote consumer safety and harmonize product safety requirements where possible.

A starting point is the option of unifying crib safety requirements. Inmetro has indicated that they will work closely with the CPSC to evaluate crib samples following both United States and Brazilian regulations. Inmetro's President Jornada also expressed their intended shift in thinking from being reactive to a more proactive approach toward product safety.  Jornada stated, "We will operate with a renewed focus on injury prevention."

CPSC’s Chairman Tenebaum's and Inmetro's President João Jornada made statements focused on their intent and strong commitment to work together to improve product safety and strengthen consumer confidence.

The text of Chairman Tenebaum's statement, as well as the MOU is available online.

New York bans flame retardant on childcare articles

Logo from flame-safe.com

In 1997, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the use of the flame retardant chemical TRIS (2,3,-dibromopropyl phosphate) in children's clothing. Scientific studies have shown that this chemical causes cancer in test animals, and that it can be rather easily absorbed into a child’s system by skin contact or through the mouth.   CPSC took pro-active steps years ago to keep this potentially harmful chemical out of children’s garments.

This week, New York Governer Andrew Cuomo is extending this ban into the world of children’s toys and childcare articles.  The TRIS-Free Children and Babies Act, makes it illegal to sell any TRIS-treated childcare articles intended for children under three years of age.  The ban becomes effective on December 1, 2013. This would apply to a wide variety of children’s products like strollers, nursing pillows, crib sheets and mattress covers, fabric toys, and car seats, to name a few. 

Photo: Baby Trend

Current federal flammability standards require children's sleepwear, sizes 0-14, to be flame-resistant. Toys and other childcare articles also have to meet a flammability standard.  To accomplish this goal, the fabrics used on the products are sometimes treated with a flame retardant prior to assembly.

Many fabrics are intrinsically flame-resistant and require no additional help to pass the standard. Other fabrics do require the addition of chemicals to meet this standard. In the past, TRIS was a common flame-retardant added to fabrics such as acetate and acetate blends; triacetate and triacetate blends, as well as 100% polyester. Cottons and nylon fibers also need some help to meet the requirements, but TRIS is rarely used on these two. It is almost impossible to tell whether your fabric is enhanced with a flame retartdant, and if it is – which one?

Pre-washing all fabrics that may come in contact with young children is always a good practice. To be sure any flame-retardant chemical is removed, wash the fabric portion of the product at least three times before using. 

Photo: Wild Poppies

On May 18, 2011, an article by Andrew Martin recounts the research conducted by biophysical chemist, Arlene Blume.  Blume was instrumental in the 1970 ban on flame-retardants on children's sleeping garments. In the recent survey study published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, toxic or untested halogenated flame retardants were found in the polyurethane foam on 80% of the 101 children's products selected for study.  More than one-third of those still contained chlorinated TRIS that has been banned in fabrics for the past 40 years.


It seems like a catch-22 situation.  Strenuous state and federal guidelines are in place to help reduce fire hazards of the foam and padded, upholstered furniture. The flammability standard is in intended to make sure the product doesn’t burst into flame, or act as an accelerant to a fire already in progress. But in order to achieve compliance, the chemical additive introduces yet another health hazard. Washing the fabric  (when possible) removes the product’s ability to meet the standard, but assures that the infants and toddlers won’t be exposed to a harmful chemical in the fabric.  The chemicals added to the foam, however, remain a concern.

Keeping children safe has never been a more dubious task.  So often these days it seems like a trade off as to which hazard is the most likely to occur. Requiring manufactuers to label products with any flame-retardant used would be a good place to start. In this way, well-informed parents and caretakers can make the best choices for their children.

Battat Fun Keys Recalled in USA & Canada

Battat Inc., a family-owned business in Plattsburgh, New York has been a well-known name in educational toys for the past 40 years. They stand behind their products and strive to provide consumers with affordable products of quality and durability.

This week they fell short of that goal, as they joined with CPSC* and Health Canada to recall over 1 million toys keys with remote feature. Battat officials say they received 17 reports of the metal keys and/or the plastic key rings breaking during use.  No injuries have been reported, but parts that break into small parts can present a choking hazard to young children. The keys are marketed for children from 6 months to 3 years - ideal ages for teething and sucking 

Battat has the following customer information posted on their company website:  “On April 8th we announced we were conducting a full inquiry into our FunKeys because of a couple of isolated complaints (from tens of thousands sold) of breakage. Let us start by letting you know that no child has been hurt. Our CEO personally traveled to China to oversee a full safety review, and our engineers and labs have not been able to torture the stainless steel keys into breakage. FunKeys still pass all safety tests. Yet we know a few have broken.”   

Since that time Battat has tweaked the product and now has stronger and more secure Fun Keys available to replace the ones in the recall.  Here’s what you need to know:

United States:  1, 080,000 sold

Canada:  3,600 sold

Retail  & Online stores

 B. Fun Keys

• Sold from April 2010 through May 2011
• Factory code H58000-01 or H26300-01
• Code on back of remote
• Remote is green or red, silver key blades, and multi-colored tops
• Keys hang from a plastic ring (various colors)
• Remote makes noise when buttons pushed
• Retail price was about $9.00

Parents Magazine

• Parents Magazine Electronic Keys
• Sold from January 2006 through December 2009
• Factory code H26300-01        
• Code on back of remote
• Remote can be different colors, silver key blades with solid colored tops
• Keys hang from plastic ring (various colors)
• Remote makes noise when buttons pushed
• Retail price was about $9.00

Consumers who have purchased this product should stop using them immediately and contact Battat for replacement. Battat can be reached toll-free at (866) 665-5524; or their company Website at www.battatco.com

CPSC Press Release, click here 

*Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the leading consumer product safety authority for consumer goods in the United States

Bravo Sports Issues Safety Recall for Disney Pogo Sticks

Bravo Sports, headquartered in Santa Fe Springs, California, manufactures and distributes outdoor sporting goods. If you can sit on it, ride on it, roll on it, or jump on it, Bravo probably has a product for that. But when it comes to pogo sticks, they are having to serious consider their quality assurance process. 

For the second time in 2011, Bravo is recalling thousands of pogo sticks for safety hazards. In March 2011 they recalled 169,000 pogo sticks when it was discovered that the metal frame tubes were breaking during use, creating a laceration hazard. The company received 123 reports of this issue, and 9 injuries ranging from facial scratches to broken teeth.

In that recall, consumers who had purchased the Rocket Stick Pogo, Pop Stick Pogo, Monster Stick Pogo and Twin Stick Pogo models were advised to stop using the product, contact Bravo and were given a full refund. 

On Friday, July 29, 2011, Bravo announced yet another recall of 159,000 of their Disney licensed line of pogo sticks. They were sold from February 2009 through June 2011 at Burlington Coat Factory, Kmart, Target, Toys R Us, and Kohls.com. They sold at a retail price of about $20 each.

In this case, the rubber pads that cover the foot pedals is wearing off too quickly, creating a slipping hazard. When hands are holding firmly onto the handles, the user is unable to use their hands to protect their fall when the footing is unexpectedly lost. In addition to this fall hazard, a problem was found with the plastic handlebar covers that serve to cover the raw metal ends of the metal handlebar tubes.  The plastic covers can slip off, exposing the user to sharp metal edges that creating a potential laceration hazard.

In this latest recall, Bravo has received 82 reports of the foot pedal issue (5 injuries).  The pogo sticks affected now are the:

• Disney Hannah Montana Pogo Stick
• Disney/Pixar Toy Story Cruising Cool Pogo Stick
• Disney/Pixar Cars Pogo Stick
• Disney Princess Pogo Stick 
• Disney Fairies Cruising Cool Pogo Stick

The Disney name label is located between the handlebars. The manufacturing dates of the products can be found on a clear label on the frame near the foot pedals. Only those sticks with a manufacturing date code of 01/01/2009-022CO and 11/30/2010-022CO are involved in this recall.

As with the earlier recall, customers are advised to stop using the product, and contact Bravo to receive a full refund.  Bravo can be reached toll-free at (855) 469-3429, or on their website at www.bravopogorecall.com.

CPSC Sets Date for Phthalate Testing Requirement

Does your child’s huggable, cuddly soft plastic baby doll contain a hidden hazard? According to many consumer product safety advocates, Congress, and the nation’s top consumer safety authority, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), it may.  For years concerns have been brought up as to the possible health risks associated with prolonged exposure to “phthalates.”

Phthalates are chemicals used during the manufacturing process to add flexibility to some kinds of plastics.  There is some evidence that the most commonly used phthalates may have a long-term use health hazard for children. While there has been much controversy regarding the validity of the risk analysis and the science behind this concern, in 1999 the European Union (EU) placed a temporary ban on DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP and DNOP in children’s products.  In July 2005, the EU made that ban permanent and became the first safety organization to ban phthalates in toys and mouthable toys.  Since that time, many U.S. states have jumped on the bandwagon and banned the use of phthalates in children’s tableware, bottles and mouthable toys.

Three years ago, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Act of 2008 (CPSIA) which, among many other restrictions, included a new federal restriction on the use of phthalates.  Using the available research, the limit set by the CPSIA was 0.1 percent.  A product that was found to have more than 0.1% of any one of these six phthalates would be considered to be in violation of the law.

In February 2009, it became unlawful in the United States to manufacture, import or sell certain children’s toys and childcare articles that contain six specific phthalates. CPSIA also mandated that manufacturers have the products tested at a third party testing lab to demonstrate compliance to this new regulation.  Due to the complex testing method, lack of available testing labs, and the time required to re-design manufacturing processes to accommodate for the removal of these phthalates, a stay of enforcement has been in place on the testing requirement portion of the new law.

Last week the CPSC voted unanimously to extend the stay until December 31, 2011.  The vote means that children’s products and childcare articles manufactured on or after that date will be required to have third-party testing documentation showing compliance.  For domestically produced items, the paperwork must be in place prior to placing the product on the market.  For imported items, this testing paperwork must be in place prior to importation of the product into the United States. Manufactures that are found to be in violation of this new federal law could be subject to fines.

To narrow the scope of the testing, CPSC has agreed that only those parts of the product that could potentially contain phthalates (plastics), and only those parts that are accessible to the child are subject to testing.  Manufacturers are encouraged to follow the guidance document published by CPSC in 2009 to determine which materials are subject to this testing.  

Of interest is that the State of California’s Proposition 65 also has a restriction of another phthalate, DnHP, in children’s products that can be mouthed. Many manufacturers are working to eliminate all seven of these phthalates in their soft plastic toys and childcare articles.  

One comment on this restriction:  When manufactures are restricted from using one material, they are often forced to use new materials that could have the same or potentially worse long-term harm.  Since phthalates had been used for decades prior to this concern being raised, it is possible that the substitute chemicals used may one-day undergo the same scrutiny that these seven phthalates have gone through. 

Phil & Ted's Put the Brakes on Stroller Sales

The Fort Collins, Colorado division of Phil & Ted’s Strollers, is recalling two stroller models that have had eight incidents of brake failures between them.  While none of those incidents occurred in North America, the risk of injury from brake failure is a serious safety concern.  For this reason, the company has joined with Consumer Product Safety Product Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada to recall the two models and provide consumers with a retrofit repair kit.

Both strollers were sold online at Phil & Teds.com, PishPoshBaby.com, and Albeebaby.com. They are also sold at juvenile product specialty stores like Babies R Us.  Each stroller sold in the United States and Canada from August 2010 through June 2011 at a price that ranged between $475 and $500.

According to their website, the company has “implemented the upgrade in production some months ago, creating ‘Series 2’ Explorer and Hammerhead buggies, and are undertaking an initiative to make the new brake available to owners of Series 1 (pre-January 2011). Explorer and Hammerhead buggies, identifiable by serial numbers between 0610/0001(June 2010, unit number 1), and 0111/4788(January 2011, unit number 4788). The serial numbers are read as follows – MMYY/unit number.” Serial number info is found on a sticker located inside the left-hand hinge. 

 Here are the details on the stroller involved in the recall:

Explorer Stroller

• 7,400 sold in USA
• 1,900 sold in Canada
• Metal frame: sold as a single stroller
• Also sold with a special doubles kit to convert it into a double stroller
• 3 wheels
• Cloth seat with canopy attachment
• Colors: black green, navy blue, red/black and green/black
• Phil & Ted’s logo on crotch portion of harness
• Model EX Explorer sticker located on rear axle bar

Hammerhead Strollers

• 160 sold in the U.S. A.
• 65 sold in Canada
• Metal frame: sold as a single stroller
• Also sold with a special doubles kit to convert it into a double stroller
• 4 wheels
• Cloth seat with canopy attachment
• Color:  black
• Phil & Ted’s logo on crotch portion of harness
• HH Hammerhead sticker located on rear axle bar

U.S. and Canadian consumers can contact Phil & Ted’s by phone at (855) 652-9019 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. MT M-F, or visit their website at www.philandteds.com/support.

For Canadian Press Release, click here.

For CPSC Press Release, click here.

For Phil & Ted's website and information on the retrofit kit, click here.