August 24, 2007 - Some of the toys that are listed under the worldwide recall of toys believed to contain high levels of lead have been discovered in the territory.
Last month, the owner of a small store in the eastern district pulled an Elmo figure off the shelf after she learned that the plastic figurine was one of the toys affected by the recall.
Last week, another recalled toy was presented before members of the newly formed Department of Health Task Force during a meeting. Pictures of the toy were recorded and later televised.
Two days ago, a young mother of three discovered that three of the toys in her toddler’s play box were all affected by the recall. The toys included an Elmo boom box, a talking Diego field journal, and a plastic Dora the Explorer figurine. The toys were brought here from the US mainland in a care package from a relative.
The current recalls for toys containing lead are being lodged by giant toy manufacturers and distributors Mattel Inc. and Fisher-Price, for toys representing popular Sesame Street and Nickelodeon characters like Dora the Explorer, Elmo, Diego, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, etc.
Lead is toxic if ingested. It contains a potent nerve toxin that can affect the brain causing lower IQ, poor memory and attention, decreased motor skills and self control, and increased aggression.
Other popular character inspired toys being recalled for containing small ingestable magnets include Batman, Polly Pocket, Barbie, Doggie Daycare, and Shonen Jump’s One Piece.
Ingestion of the magnets has resulted in one death and
19 surgical procedures in the United States since the recall was launched last year.
Chairman of the DOH Task Force Dr. Ivan Tuliau said that because toys included in the recall have been located here, one of their goals now is to get pictures out to the public, “to raise awareness and let people know what to look for.”
He added, “We also want to get photos of the recalled toys out to all the different stores to let them know which toys need to be removed from their inventory.”
Tuliau said that the current recall is voluntary, not mandatory. Therefore, they will not immediately go into the stores and confiscate the items but instead, store owners will be given a deadline of when to remove all the recalled items from their shelves before members of the DOH Task Force stop in for inspection purposes.
“There is a lot of money involved here,” Tuliau said. “The priority now is to get all the recalled items off store shelves. Afterwards, all the local vendors and consumers will be able to send the toys back to the manufacturer for a monetary voucher.”
According to the Fisher Price recall web site, monetary vouchers range anywhere from $1 to $76, depending on the toy.
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