More Toy Recalls in Canada

This is Anti-Bullying Awareness week in Canada. Yes, I wouldn’t have known either. It seems we are failing ourselves and our children by not providing more awareness on this very serious issue facing every 3 out of 4 students in Canada.

I have been conducting my own research on this social issue and at my work, every single person had at least one bullying story to share. In honor of the Sea of Pink campaign, we wore pink shirts to demonstrate more awareness. It was a small gesture but it started conversations because the truth is bullying affects everyone. It weakens our community, stresses our families and destroys our children’s self-esteem with the potential of putting them into high risk situations.

I have the deep privilege of knowing a brave young man who has been victimized by bullying since he was 5 years old and he is now 14. He has been bullied everyday at school, of every year. Sometimes the bullying would be so severe he had to stay home from school.

He is a hero because he is speaking out about his experiences with bullying and is sharing his story. Tomorrow he is speaking at a public school to students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 and this is his story:

“Hi my name is James* and I am 14 years old. Today, I’m going to tell you how it felt for me to be bullied and how it began. But first, show of hands, how many of you have been bullied before? How many of you have bullied someone before?

When it started:

My bullying problem started when I was about 5 years old. The bullying continued from then to the end of grade 8. In kindergarten, people made fun of me, probably because of my size or how I looked. The same people followed me into grade 1 and continued to bully me. As I moved grade through grade, the bullying got worse. I got hurt in some situations, and got caught up in a lot of name calling in other situations. Altogether I have been bullied for a total of 8 whole years. Grade 8 was a hard year for me, but it was worth it. I sat through all the bullying that year and it stopped this year.

How I dealt with it:

At first, I addressed the situation with name calling. If someone called me a name, I would call them a name. I didn’t get in as much trouble with the name calling as I did with violence. Violence is not the way to go when you’re being bullied because it will only result in more violence. You can’t get mad for reasons worth not getting mad at, because that will make people want to tease you even more. I stayed away from violence for a couple of years and then eventually came back to it when someone started a fight with me. He threw something at me and I attacked back. Sure, this will get people talking about you, but it wont fix things. It will keep that one person away for a while, but their anger towards you will build up and eventually they will start another fight with you. Only difference this time is they intend to do much more than punch you a few times.

If you’re having bullying problems at school, or anywhere else, tell somebody, because it’s not like you’re being a tattle-tale. If it means the bullying will stop, then you shouldn’t care if they call you a tattle-tale. The best thing to do when someone says something to you is to ignore them. If you react back, they’ll know that they’re getting to you and they will continue to call you names. If you ignore them, they’ll give up on calling you names. So instead of fighting someone or calling them names after they say something hurtful to you, ignore them and tell somebody. If you feel that you’ll be labeled a tattle-tale, tell the school anonymously and then you won’t get labeled. A good friend will back you up when you’re having bullying problems, however, a good friend would not fight for you because they know that if they fight, it won’t stop the bully from coming at you when your friend isn’t there. My friend stood up for me when he saw people calling me names. When someone started a fight with me, he stepped in and fought along side me, not for me.

How it affected my life:

The bullying affected most of my personal life. I was upset both at school and at home because of the daily bullying at school. If someone called me a name, my whole day would be ruined. I looked forward to my friends and family cheering me up. A friend, parent or even a teacher can notice when you’re feeling down, and will try to cheer you up. One small gesture is all it takes to cheer someone up, so if you see one of your friends feeling upset, talk to them, because you never know, that could change their whole day.

Types of bullying:

1. Cyber Bullying:
   • Some people choose to cyber bully because they know if they bully someone far away, they can’t do anything about it. Maybe they can’t do anything to you but they can do something to themselves. Before you say something to someone online, think about what they might do to themselves, think about all the pain you’re causing this person.
2. Physical Bullying:
   • If someone tries to fight with you, and you don’t want to fight, get your friends to back you up. Don’t encourage fighting. Instead, just calmly tell the bully to back off, and then walk away. If you fight back, the bully will know that they’re upsetting you, and they’ll continue to bug you.
3. Verbal Bullying:
   • Verbal bullies threaten you but have nothing to back their threat up. They’ll say they’re going to get their friends and they may not even have any. If someone threatens you or says something hurtful to you, either walk away, or laugh, because this shows you don’t care. If I have learned anything over my years of being bullied, it would be to ignore the bullies, because sometimes, no words can say a lot.
4. Exclusion:
   • Have you ever seen someone get excluded from something? This is bullying. In gym classes, you may play something like dodge ball. There would be two team captains who pick their teams 1 person at a time. If the captain doesn’t like you, they won’t pick you. Everyone would be picked one by one until you are the only one left, and the team that has no choice of picking you complains. Next time you decide to play a game, invite someone who’s being excluded to come play with you, because the bullies won’t realize that they’re losing something other than a game.

Did you know?

• For every 2 students, at least one of them is being bullied, or in some cases, for every 4 students, at least 3 are being bullied.
• 80% of adolescents reported being bullied during their school years.
• 90% of 4^th through 8^th graders report being victims
• Bullying can have long term effects on its victims.

Quotes:

A small quote from getrealchallenge.ca:

• Most people walk in and out of your life……but FRIENDS leave footprints in your heart.
• To The World You Might Be One Person; But To One Person You Might Be the World.
• If you fall down 10 times, Stand up 11.

A Cry For Help:

If you’re having problems with bullying or any other problems, don’t hesitate to dial 1-800-668-6868. Kids Help Phone is confidential, meaning that your name will not be asked, the conversation will not be recorded and posted somewhere on the internet. If you don’t want to call Kids Help Phone, then go to www.kidshelpphone.ca and ask a counselor online by posting a question.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to tell my story. It is my hope that in some way I will enable you to have the courage to speak out, not only for yourself, but for others who have suffered the same abuse that I myself and many other children and adults have experienced.

Your voice has the power to make a difference.”

It all started with a simple post about a choking warning I received for ‘Sophie the Giraffe”. After I did a little research I found similar stories of choking with the toy so I posted a warning on my site.

I then blogged about an independent review by Health Canada for “Sophie the Giraffe”. There have been choking and consumer related complaints raised to Health Canada so they now reviewing the the toy based on Canadian safety standards and not European standards (where the toy originated).

Toys R Us Canada has since removed the product from their shelves pending the review and it is now unavailable for purchase. Another toy company has also removed the product from purchase and are sending their supply back to the distributor.

Since the blog post (which is all true and is news worthy) I have received many comments from parents irritated that I am spreading rumours and fraudulent information surrounding this toy. When in fact, all that I am writing about is true.

So I pose this question to the Canadian Parents Blogging community “why do some turn a blind eye to consumer safety over strong brand loyalty?” It is clear that parents and children alike LOVE their Sophie teethers but when there are also incidents of severe choking with babies, how can we call those mothers “bad parents”, “fraudulent”, and “false information”?

For more information please visit, www.thisgirlwearsglasses.com

I just spoke to a Manager at Toys R Us Canada and they have been notified by their Head Office to pull ‘Sophie’ off their shelves ACROSS CANADA.  The product has been removed from their shelves and is no longer available for purchase.

Health Canada has not issued a recall or product warning but according to the representative at Toys R Us “the product is under assessment and they like to err of the side of caution.” There have been several reports of choking incidents and other toy stores have also pulled the product from their shelves.

When I first had the idea of hosting a blog, I knew that by putting myself “out there” I left myself open to criticism. The topic of consumer safety and particularly, toy recalls was my champion topic since I am deeply affected by the topic. However, what I did not anticipate was the amount of emails I would receive regarding a particular post regarding a potential choking hazard for “Sophie the Giraffe”.

I don’t own a “Sophie the Giraffe”, and as I mentioned in my post the fact that this toy is made of rubber, is painted and has a squeaker in it are the fundamental reasons why I didn’t buy it.

I was simply notified by a toy store after they were informed by a customer that their child had choked on this toy. This consumer complaint prompted the toy store to pull the product from the shelf and notify the distributor.

In my post, I make no claims to owning the toy and I also very clearly state the toy has not been recalled and that a safety warning has not been issued. I simply tell the story of a baby choking on this toy, and link to similar stories shared by mothers.

Since I posted the story, I have received numerous emails from people with claims ranging from:

• “fraudulent”,
• “misinformed”,
• “reeks of bad parenting”,
• “Sophie the giraffe has tested the toy with a lab accreditied by the Goverment and the toy has passed all the safety tests required for newborn babies which in fact include test for shocking hazard,” - (This was my personal favourite due to the atrocious spelling and use of “shocking” instead of *choking*)
• “for your sake you better stop spreading the rumours of Sophie being unsafe,” – (that is a little harsh)
• “Sophie is one of the safer teething toys out their“.
• “Has your recommendation been tested and approved?

First, if I had known this was going to be the post that started my blog propagating, I would have thought of a better title for the infamous post. Secondly, I have every right to post the information simply because this is a true story.

There is a parent whose child choked on this toy.

So I am the one being accused of “fraud” when there are numerous toys being recalled that have “Lead Free!” on the label, yet are recalled for excess lead? I find it unbelievable that I am being called “misinformed” when manufacturers continue to have their products recalled yet they don’t HAVE TO inform the consumer. I don’t care if “Sophie is one of the safer teething toys out their” – I want the SAFEST toy.

I am glad that “Sophie” is clearly loved and is used as a safe teething option for parents and their children. But at the end of the day I don’t care about those stories.

• I care about the parent whose child choked on this toy.
• I care about the parent whose child died of lead poisoning from swallowing an innocuous piece of jewelery marketed towards children.
• I care about the manufacturers who are not issuing recall notices and have their products available on store shelves or remain in our homes.

This is the last time I will be discussing “Sophie the Giraffe” on this blog unless it is accompanied by a recall notice or safety warning.

Sincerely,

This Girl Wears Glasses

P.S. - One last thing :  Read Comment #10 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to eat, distribute or sell Sherwood brand Pirate’s Gold milk chocolate coins imported from China.  The candy is sold across Canada by Costco and may also have been sold in bulk packages or as individual pieces at various dollar and bulk stores across Canada. Learn More>

Since our family has been affected by toy recalls, I must admit that I have only focused on ensuring that no hazardous toys find their way into our home. Also in my plight to ensure awareness for consumers I have given very little consideration to the people who actually work in the factories that supply these tainted and hazardous toys.

So I asked myself, if there has been a recall on a North American toy product due to excess levels of lead (or barium, etc.) because if a child ingested some of the paint and risked become seriously ill with long term development issues and even death…what was happening to the workers?

Here I began my research and am slowing beginning to understand the awful back-alley of our shiny toys for the North American market. I found this revealing interview YouTube, with a celebrated veteran journalist Loretta Tofani, which describes the terrible conditions, zero safety standards that obviously lead to serious illnesses (and death) for Chinese factory workers.

About
Veteran reporter Loretta Tofani’s investigative project took her to China, where over a 12-month period she visited more than 25 factories and observed first hand how Chinese workers routinely lose their health and their lives making products for export to the United States and other countries.

Do you know how badly I would have loved it if he made reference to this site! Toy Recalls in Canada from the Toronto Star is now on Perez!

Our community has been enraged by an incident that happened on a city bus on Sunday, October 5th. According to an article in the Ottawa Citizen, a bus driver tried to restrict two women with their strollers from boarding the bus . The driver advised the women that only one stroller was allowed on the bus at a time. The mother, Sarah Pacey told the driver that there was no restriction on the number of strollers allowed on the bus (which the Ottawa Citizen described as being partially empty). While the mother argued with the driver that both women should be allowed the board the bus, Sarah Paceys 2-year old daughter boarded the bus. Then Sarah Pacey was trying board the bus with her stroller, but the bus driver closed the doors and drove away.

With her 2-year old on the bus.

The scene on the bus was described as passengers “screaming” at the bus driver to stop, who drove approximately 100 metres down the road. Sarah Pacey was chasing after the bus screaming for the bus to stop. After the bus stopped, a passenger helped the crying child off the bus to be reunited with her mother.

I relate to Sarah Pacey as a mother who is trying to protect her rights and that of her children. I applaud her courage from a direct quote from the Ottawa Citizen: “She said mothers have to know the company won’t tolerate this kind of behaviour, and that anything less than the driver’s dismissal is unacceptable.”

I do not know the facts around the argument with the driver, but I believe that the driver knew that that child was on the bus. I have called the OC Transpo in support of Sarah Pacey and ALL of our children.

When I became a parent some of the wisdom which we received was:
1. If you can pass the toy through a toilet paper roll means it is too small for a child under the age of 3
2. If the toy is more narrow than a hot dog wiener means it is too small for a child under the age of 3

Sophie the Giraffe Teething Toy by Bug in a Rug is an immensely popular toy for teething. I never understood her appeal with her cult-like following mainly because she has:
1. the squeaker inside
2. airbrushed paint on the outside

Those are a couple of no-no`s in our house.

On the net, she is simply known as `Sophie`. Touted as the classic toy from France, made of 100% natural rubber from the Hevea tree and colored with food grade paint. ’Sophie’ has been described as being excruciatingly cute and thoughtfully crafted.

Please note: This toy has not been recalled and no Canadian safety warnings have been issued

However, this toy has come up a couple of times in my research but it wasn`t until my highly trusted local toy store told me that they had a consumer complaint and promptly removed `Sophie` from their shelves that I started to pay her more attention.

This is what I found, she is bigger than big. There are millions of mothers who have postings with accolades to this cute and squeaky toy. But there have also been blog postings about choking hazards on infants having her legs rammed down their throats. I think this woman summed it up when she said `just because everyone seems to love this toy and have one doesn’t mean it is a safe choice.` On Chapters Online a woman with a similar experience had the following to say `Dangerous! My son choked!`

Sophie has long legs (more narrow than a hot dog wiener) and infants have short throats and almost no fine motor control to pull this toy out of their mouths. Just be careful and remember a frozen washcloth  or a silicon spatula work great!

Well, not actually www.thisgirlwearsglasses.com but the Toronto Star had a front page story that found toys with toxic levels of lead were being sold around the Toronto area.

I am shocked.

The reporter (David Bruser) visited various locations around Toronto with a device called the “XRF machine” (how can I get my hands on one!) which determines chemical components of items. The truth is lead is an awful reality for toys on our Canadian shelves (examples: Bonne Bell, Race Car Kit ,Toy Tool Set, Massive Soldier with Machine Gun, Machine Toy Gun, Toy Binoculars, Classic Horseshoe Magnet and if it isn’t lead then another hazardous component in many paints is barium (example: “Zolo Zippy” wooden pull toys by Kushies Baby, “Wooden Alphabet & Number Blocks” by First Learning , “Pop Up” toy by Galt, “Big Top Flippity Flops” by ALEX), “Geometric Stacker” by Melissa & Doug, which were all left unreported by The Star.

I do believe that recall notices by Health Canada can be effective to the consumer - but only if it reaches them. I don’t know many Canadians that browse government websites on a regular basis and since many of these recalls are not being picked up by the media often families or retailers never know of the recall. This is especially true if the recall is for an American manufacturer or importer. If that is the case, Health Canada does not have any jurisdiction so the product could remain on Canadian shelves. The Toronto Star reporter, David Bruser, also highlighted the issue that since there are only 46 inspectors monitoring stores nationwide how effective can they be when enforcing recalls from the store shelves? (Job Wanted: Sign my name up for the 47th inspector!)

We walk the line with recall notices because they do not really provide enough information to make an impact on Canadian consumers, they don`t have to be enforced or associated penalties to American manufacturers and it keeps politely under the radar for our government. An example is “This product was sold in many retail and educational stores across Canada”, “Testing by Health Canada revealed that the surface paint on the toy contains barium in excess of the allowable limit.”, “The paint on the recalled toy boats contains excessive levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.”

Can you be more specific?

When I called Health Canada to discuss these `specifics` such as where were the products sold, I want access to the test results, how much over the allowable limit were the products? I was told that it would be a breach of confidentiality. Who exactly are we trying to protect when we issue recall notices?

P.S. I liked that Chapters-Indigo were mentioned in the article for having unsafe toys available for purchase since I have had to notify them of products that had been recalled and were still available for purchase! They no longer return my emails when I ask them to post the recall notices