ORLANDO, Fla. – Forty-seven percent of parents say they purchased a toy from an online source that they later found or suspected was fake, according to a survey by The Toy Association.
“All toys sold in the U.S. must comply with over 100 rigorous safety standards and tests that are required by federal law. But safety is a shared partnership between industry and consumers - which is why Toy Safety Awareness Month aims to help shoppers steer clear of knockoff toys, understand the importance of always following the age labels on toy packaging, know which non-toy items should be kept out of children’s reach, and much more,” Joan Lawrence, senior vice president of The Toy Association, said in a news release.
Teresa Murray with the U.S. Public Interest Research Group warns consumers to watch for e-commerce listings that don’t disclose a manufacturer and ship from overseas.
These sellers may not comply with U.S. Safety standards.
“I like saving money as much as the next person, but not when it comes to compromising my family’s safety,” Murray told CNN.
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Here are safe toy-shopping tips from PlaySafe.org:
- Tip 1: Avoid counterfeit toys
- The Toy Association urges shoppers to research products and sellers before making a purchase.
- Counterfeit toys are often designed to mimic well-known brands sold by responsible companies.
- Tip 2: Always follow age labels
- The age label on a toy is not merely a suggestion, it’s crucial safety guidance based on the developmental skills and abilities of children at a given age and the specific features of a toy.
- Tip 3: Avoid non-toy items that could pose risks
- According to The Toy Assocition, sometimes, kids are gifted non-toy products such as desk accessories, home decorations, watches, and remote controls that are not meant for kids and may contain small batteries, non-toy water beads, and/or high-powered magnets that can be accessed by children and are very dangerous if accidentally swallowed.
- Tip 4: Check for recalls
- Toys bought from third-party marketplaces, second-hand stores, garage sales, as well as hand-me-downs, should always be checked at recalls.gov to ensure they have not previously been removed from the marketplace.
Watch News 6 Anchor Justin Warmoth’s interview with CNN’s Karen Caifa on the subject at the top of this story.
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