Toxic Toys By Seher, Mumbai, India
The largest selling toy company has issued a worldwide recall for millions of its Chinese made pieces that contain up to 500 times the amount of lead than permissible. Still, in India, at least in my city Mumbai, these toxic toys are sitting pretty on the store’s shelves. Last Sunday I went to buy a gift for my nephew to an up-market store. There I saw the very model of a toy that is supposed to be taken off the market. When I asked the salesman about it, he was totally unaware of the situation.
The alarmingly high content of lead in these toys and some children jewelry (like hair clips, earrings) are extremely dangerous to the kids. It can lead to asthma, retarded growth, and kidney problem, retardation in mental health and even in cancer. It is of utmost concern that despite the recall, the toys are being sold openly whereas the government seems to be sleeping on the problem. And this is the situation in the high price market. In small shops and markets, the situation is much worse.
90% of the toys imported from china don’t even have the name of the manufacturer. Many Tiffin boxes and water bottles are also imported. I shiver imagining the outcome it can have on our young ones.
It is high time that the government puts an authority in place to monitor the quality of imported as well as domestically produced toys and other things that come in constant contact with small kids.
You will be surprised and shocked to know that there is no quality control for toys imported to our country, simply because they don’t come under the preview of Bureau of Indian Standards, even though they cater to the most vulnerable section of our population, the kids.
Till such measures are taken, we have to be extra careful about what our kids wear and play with. These toxic toys can ruin their health.
i have replaced my 8 month old daughter's toys with the ones that my sister in law makes at home. they might not be as attractive, but they are at least safer than these toys. very "on time" blog.
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Seher,
That was a timely issue. There are people who go all out for Chinese toys because of the low price tag. The birthday gifts are bigger and brighter and the giver is more appreciated...the toxicity goes unreported. In my state, the zealous pro-China philosophists may even counter a campaign against China as "capitalist" and an effect of putting down the competitor in globalisation scenario. But recently I read again of drugs from China which are being given this same treatment. I hope at least the readers of 4indianwoman takes care that the Chinese Toys are kept away from our home.
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