This holiday season consumers are less sure of their purchases than ever because of the heightened concern over lead levels in toys. More than 60 toys have already been recalled nationwide. Tim Gilchrist of "No Strings Attached Toys" in Lafayette is trying to make life easier for shoppers. "We said we need to use manufacturers that do not have lead problems with their toys and we need to prove it by testing everything in our store." To do that, No Strings Attached invested in a scanner which set them back more than $30,000. Tim's wife Carol Gilchrist says, for the sake of their shoppers, and their own children, they feel they have to make sure the toys they sell are safe. "It's your job as the last line of defense between the manufacturers and customers, you need to step up."
The Gilchrist's hope other stores will follow suit, but in the mean time they're offering free lead tests to anyone who comes into their store. Tim Gilchrist says checking the labels on a toy for lead content or the country the toy is made in, just isn't good enough.
"Often we think, man if I just avoid toys made in China, I'm safe. Unfortunately even toys made in the U.S. have parts that are manufactured in China."
As part of the backlash to the lead scare many charities have had to trash donated toys. "No Strings Attached" is sponsoring a month long safe toy donation drive to try and bring every child Happy Holidays. If you would like more information on the toy drive you can find a link on this website.
Governer Spitzer wants crack down
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Stores in New York are still stocking toys with unsafe levels of lead, according to the state Consumer Protection Board. After a spate of national toy recalls in August, Gov. Eliot Spitzer ordered a statewide investigation that found some toys with unsafe lead levels were still available and retailers need to improve their responses to recalls. Inspectors visited 2,800 stores and found about 620 recalled toys still on shelves, Spitzer said Monday. The effort also identified three more toys - made in China and sold in dollar stores - that had excessive lead in their paint: the "Army Force" car set imported by Encore Sales of Ontario, Canada; green and orange "Sprite Tractor Trailer" toys; and "Wrestle Mania" action figures distributed by AA of America. Spitzer called on the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue a national recall of those toys. He also asked the Consumer Protection Board to draft legislation that would punish businesses that sell recalled products and tighten recall standards for manufacturers, distributors and retailers. About 5,000 children a year are diagnosed with lead poisoning in New York - mostly from lead paint in older housing, according to the governor's office. Lead exposure in children and unborn children can cause brain and nervous system damage, behavioral and learning problems, slowed growth, hearing problems and headaches.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
