Dangerous Toy Lists for 2014/2015

January 3, 2015 | By Greene Broillet & Wheeler

In the past, we have blogged during the holiday season about the dangers that certain defective toys and hazardous toy materials pose to children. With the holiday season reaching its end, it is time to once again assess which toys have been deemed substantially dangerous heading into 2015.

In this entry, we summarize two lists of dangerous toys – the list compiled by the World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (W.A.T.C.H.), and the Trouble in Toyland 2014 list (created by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund).

2014 Worst Toy List by W.A.T.C.H. (Manufacturer or Distributor Listed Behind Toy Name)

1. AirStorm Firetek Bow (Zing)
2. Radio Flyer Ziggle (Radio Flyer, Inc.)
3. Catapencil (Toysmith)
4. Alphabet Zoo Rock & Stack Pull Toy (Skip Hop)
5. SWAT Electric Machine Gun (Junxing Toys Industrial Co., LTD; Toy 2U “Manufactory” Company, LTD)
6. Wooden Instruments (Wal-Mart)
7. Bottle Rocket Party (Norman & Globus, Inc.)
8. Lil’ Cutesies – Best Friends (JC Toys Group, Inc.)
9. True Legends Orcs Battle Hammer (Toys R US)
10. Colored Hedgehog (Toys R US)

The “Trouble in Toyland: 2014 Report” lists a variety of substances and components that make toys dangerous – whether from toxicity, choking hazards, or other dangers – and includes:

• Chromium
• Phthalates (chemicals that increase flexibility and make plastics softer)
• Lead
• Small parts/pieces
• Magnets (especially small, powerful magnets)
• Batteries
• Small balls (smaller than 1.75 inches in diameter) and small, rounded toys
• Balloons
• Parts that cause excessive noise and hearing damage

The Trouble in Toyland report also provides examples of toys that contain these dangerous materials or conditions, makes policy suggestions for legislators and contains tips for parents about how to keep their children safe.