The 37th annual “Trouble in Toyland” toy safety report by Denver-based US public Interest Research Group (PIRG) warned parents doing their holiday shopping to carefully examine any toys before they buy them because recalled and counterfeit toys are being sold online.
In October PIRG said it was able to buy more than 30 recalled toys from multiple online sellers based here in the United Stares. PIRG noted it is illegal to sell recalled toys for retailers and online marketplaces. The report also noted that counterfeit toys don’t always meet the safety standard but continue to be sold online. The group was able to purchase different toys that had been recalled for a multitude of reasons from choking hazards to laceration risk to even potential poisoning. The toys were purchased from sellers on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and online toyshops.
The toys included stuffed animals, action figures, activity balls for babies, a toddlers riding toy, and more. The majority of them were bought in the original packaging or even new with tags. The report noted that “none of the sellers flagged, stopped or sent a warning about any of the purchases or recalled toys.”
When the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and a toy manufacturer announces a recall the toy must be removed from shelves and online marketplaces immediately. The sale of a recalled product ordered by the CPSC is prohibited by federal law. PIRG offered the advice that if the only place to get a popular hard to find toy is a sketchy website, don’t buy it. It may not be real or meet the safety standards designed to protect your little ones