Tuesday, November 22, 2011
WASHINGTON — Hidden dangers lurk in some of those less-expensive toys that parents might grab as stocking stuffers this time of year — like a Sesame Street Oscar the Grouch doll.
The small, furry, green Oscar, purchased for $6.99, was one of the toys singled out in the annual toy safety report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.
The consumer advocate's report, released Tuesday, found just over a dozen toys on store shelves that violate federal safety standards. Some had unsafe levels of lead or chemicals called phthalates, and others contained small parts that young children could choke on. Besides Oscar, other toys deemed potentially dangerous included a plastic book for babies; a $1 plastic minicrossbow that fires off little balls and a handheld "whirly wheel."
The Oscar doll has a small hat that could come off easily, which is a possible choking hazard ...