South Kent News

As Michigan parents buy toys for their children over the holidays, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel published a consumer alert on Michigan.gov about toy safety, reminding residents to be on the lookout for dangerous toys.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the government office in charge of shielding the general public from the unintentional dangers that may arise in toys and other products that are designed for children.

The CPSC monitors, reviews and prevents potentially perilous toys from reaching the store shelves. However, Michigan.gov says that during the months of April through September, CPSC was forced to remove inspectors from their posts around the country in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, which has hindered the usual functions of the agency.

Attorney General Dana Nessel | Michigan.gov

Nessel says that the inspection method was affected and that parents should use discretion when purchasing toys for their children.

“Parents must exercise caution when purchasing toys for children this year, as some of the traditional safety protocols that we’ve become accustomed to may have been compromised due to COVID-19,” Nessel said, according to Michigan.gov. “My office is committed to protecting consumers from a variety of concerns, and I urge anyone who’s shopping for toys to do their research and review the guides and tips on how to safely make purchases. There is a lot of information to help consumers this holiday season, including my office’s 2020 Dangerous Toy Guide."

According to Nessel, children’s toys may not look hazardous at first. However, if the toy is swallowed, the end result could be either serious injury or death.

Additionally, lead paint on a toy is not visible and can't be seen with the naked eye. Lead is particularly poisonous to people. Another example is the degree of fire resistance in clothing for children. Parents aren't able to execute the proper fire resistance testing on youth pajamas and other items of clothing.

If parents notice any danger or problems with a toy or children’s product, they are urged to report it directly on the CPSC website. Michiganders can also register a complaint with Nessel's office.