Potentially toxic toys

Public Interest Research Group wants parents to be aware before they buy

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Potentially toxic toys continually creep into the toys your children play with. The Linkner's would never intentionally put their kids in danger.

"They're my life. They're everything to me," said Joanne Linkner talking about her kids.

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So you can imagine how shocked the Linkner's were to find out some toys in their home may be hazardous. Even though there are now tighter safety restrictions on toy manufacturers, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) they're not tight enough.

"Potentially hazardous toys still litter our toy shelves," said PIRG member Dalyn Houser.  "A lot of jewelry, shiny, metallic jewelry usually has lead or cadmium."

Some other toys PIRG deemed potentially dangerous are dragster cars, play food, Morphobot, snake eggs, Funkeys car keys and balloons.

Some other holiday gift buying tips:

  • Bigger is better for children under three.
  • Stay away from soft plastic which could contain too much PVC.
  • Check out recall lists on the consumer product and safety commission website.


PIRG releases a Trouble in Toyland report every year in late November. You can check it out at uspirg.org.

Check recalls with the US Consumer Products Safety Commission