Congress Vows Hearings On Toxic Toys

When 19 million toys are taken off the shelves and out of the toybox because they're coated with a toxic substance that can damage a growing child's brain, it's a clear signal that Toyland is seriously troubled.

Toyland, if you haven't heard, is China, where an estimated 80% of toys sold in the United States are made. But the problems aren't only in Toyland itself, where lax laws allow factory owners to get away with finding cheap toxic substitutes for the ingredients they need to cook up their products. (Remember, the same problem lead to toxic pet food, toothpaste and even some seafood this year.)

The problem is also with the federal oversight of imports from China -- and around the world. And the problem is also with the importers, who clearly haven't been careful enough about checking up on the products they sell. A more fundamental problem might be our own appetite for cheap, disposable goods.

Now, forces in Congress and the industry are calling for better standards to improve toy safety, just as Congress and the food industry made noise about cleaning up that process following the spate of imported food-related recalls. They're right to pay attention. Someone's got to mind the store.

COMMENTS ()