A consumer advocacy group is warning holiday shoppers that some toys, including certain types of the popular fidget spinners, may be hazardous to kids.
In researching for it's annual "Trouble In Toyland" report, the California Public Interest Research Group found high levels of lead in two fidget spinners sold at Target.
CALPIRG tested Fidget Wild’s Premium Spinner in “Metal” and in “Bronze” and found they contained lead well above the legal limit for children's products. Lead exposure can cause health problems, especially for children.
"We persuaded Target to take it off store shelves and to take it off their web site,” said Emily Rusch with CALPIRG. “But we're concerned that these fidget spinners have not been formally recalled and could be for sale elsewhere."
Patty Davis with the US Consumer Protection Safety Commission said her department hasn't issued a nationwide recall because the two spinners in question were not directly marketed to children.
The packaging says "for ages 14 and up," but they were displayed in Target's toy section, and in some cases still are.
Capital Public Radio found a couple of the “Metal” spinners still on display this week at a Sacramento-area Target and tried to buy one. But a "do not sell" warning popped up at the register and a supervisor took it away.
This year CALPIRG also started looking into items, such as interactive dolls, that can collect detailed information.
"Parents should be thinking carefully about how comfortable they are with toys and children's products, or other products that are either taking voice recordings or video of what's happening in your home," Rusch said.
CALPIRG found one doll called "My Friend Cayla" which was banned in Germany for privacy violations is still being sold in the U.S. The FBI has also issued a statement informing parents that toys with microphones could record conversations within earshot of the device. FBI officials advise parents to examine user agreements and know where their family's data is being sent and stored.
Subscribe to receive email updates about toy recalls at recalls.gov.
Report unsafe toys at safeproducts.gov.
Read CALPIRG’s full “Trouble In Toyland” report here.
Copyright 2017 Capital Public Radio
