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NEWARK
- Attorney General Anne Milgram and State
Consumer Affairs Director David Szuchman
announced today that investigators from
the division have conducted 40 random store
inspections for unsafe toys during the holiday
shopping season, removing previously recalled
items from store shelves.
“Nothing
is as important as the safety of our children,
which is why we all must be vigilant in
making sure that the toys we purchase during
the holiday season are safe for our kids,
and making sure that toys federal safety
experts have found to be dangerous - whether
a choking hazard or tainted by lead paint
-- are no longer available for sale,’’
Attorney General Milgram said.
“We’re
spot-checking stores for recalled toys that
should not be on store shelves and available
for purchase,” said Director Szuchman,
who joined inspectors at a Newark Family
Dollar Store where the 40th unannounced
inspection for recalled toys took place.
“Consumers should review the list
of toys recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC) and ensure these
dangerous items do not end up in a child’s
hands.”
Four
of the 39 stores inspected prior to today
were selling or had recently offered two
toys recalled by the CPSC: Little Tikes
Chit ‘N Chat Toy Cell Phone and the
Fun ‘N Games Magnetic Dart Board.
Investigators
found Little Tikes Chit 'N Chat Toy Cell
Phones on the shelves of Family Dollar Stores
located in Bayville (449 A.C. Blvd.); Newark
(184 W. Market St.); and Passaic (215 Washington
Place). The Family Dollar Store in Bayonne
(577 Broadway) had Fun 'N Games Magnetic
Dart Boards in stock prior to the store
inspection.
In
its May, 2008 recall notice, the CPSC stated
that the” hinge cover on the toy cell
phone can detach from the phone, posing a
choking hazard to young children.” The
April, 2008 recall notice for the dart boards
stated that “small magnets at the ends
of the darts can detach. Magnets found by
young children can be swallowed or aspirated.
If more than one magnet is swallowed, the
magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal
perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.”
Other recent toy recalls announced by the
CPSC were because of high lead paint levels
and the risk of laceration, impalement or
choking. State
Consumer Affairs investigators have the
authority to order the removal of any recalled
toy found offered for sale. County consumer
affairs offices also are conducting inspections
for recalled toys.
The
Division of Consumer Affairs provides a
link from its web site to the CPSC’s
list of recalled toys: www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/recall/recalls.htm
Consumers
who find recalled toys on store shelves
can notify the Division of Consumer Affairs
online at www.njconsumeraffairs.gov
or by calling 800-242-5846 or 973-504-6200.
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