Toys are recalled because they present a safety hazard. So, when the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the toy manufacturer announce a recall, that product is supposed to be removed from store shelves and online marketplaces immediately.
But don’t assume that always happens, even though it’s illegal to sell a product that’s been recalled.
The consumer watchdogs at the U.S. PIRG Education Fund had no problem finding and buying recalled toys.
“It was very upsetting and very surprising, to be honest,” said Teresa Murray who wrote the Trouble in Toyland report.
In a three-week period in October, Murray was able to buy more than 30 toys that had been recalled.
“Some of them had only been recalled a couple of days before we tried to buy them; some of them had been recalled weeks, or months, or even years before we bought them,” Murray explained. “And they were still available online from major marketplaces as well as some boutique toy shops.”
Murray advises parents to check before they buy. And check any new toys that come into the house as presents, whether purchased at a physical store or online. Just go to the government website: www.cpsc.gov/recalls.
More Info: Study Finds Some Recalled Toys Are Still Up for Sale
