Recalled and counterfeit toys pose threat to children

On Thursday we released our annual Trouble in Toyland report at the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital. The report reviewed common toy hazards including choking hazards and risks of counterfeit todays and found that some recalled toys were still available for purchase through online marketplaces and online stores including Facebook Marketplace and eBay.

About 200,000 children go to an emergency room each year because of toy-related injuries or illnesses, according to the CPSC. The threats to children include recalled toys, counterfeit toys that don’t meet U.S. safety standards and failure to heed warning labels.

“Every year kids come into our emergency room because of unsafe toys,” explained Dr. Steven J. Czinn, MD,  Director of the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital. “If you see your child swallow a piece of a small toy, take it seriously. Call your primary care physician. If they have any breathing issues, that’s a medical emergency, and you should call 911.”

Our Toyland reports have helped shape toy safety regulation since the 1980s.

Maryland PIRG Foundation finds recalled and counterfeit toys major threat to children