Annual Toy Safety Survey Finds Choking Hazards, No Lead

As parents get ready for the holiday shopping season, the California Public Interest Research Group is warning of potentially dangerous toys.

In its annual study, CalPIRG tested over 200 toys currently in stores for toxic chemicals and choking hazards.

Report author Carli Jensen says the goal is not to publish a definitive list, but to highlight some characteristics dangerous toys can have--for instance, choking hazards.

"We recommend if parents are concerned about toys and they want to check, they should use a standard toilet paper tube and if the toy fits inside, it should not be given to any children three or under," says Jensen.

The report found a plastic wand and Disney figurines could break into smaller parts that failed that test, as well as three toys that showed levels of chromium exceeding federal standards in preliminary tests.

For the first time in recent memory, Jensen says the study did not find any toys with high levels of lead.

"While we can’t say there aren’t any toys on the shelf that contain lead, we do think not finding it this year is a sign that all the work to get the worst toxics out of products is making some real progress," Jensen says.

The federal Consumer Product Safety Commission says it examines all toys highlighted by the study each year.