More Toy Recalls in Canada

I haven’t posted on food recalls before but the latest string of melamine-related recalls stemming from the Chinese tainted-milk scandal is getting a little hard not to discuss.

Just today 7 varieties of Lotte brand Koala’s March filled cookies that have been pulled off shelves in Canada. Here is the news article. The cookies were manufactured in China and distributed by Lotte U.S.A., Inc. I wanted to share the Lotte U.S.A, Inc., website so you could see images of the products but the website is now offline!

According to the recall, “Melamine, a chemical usually used in industrial products, and is usually harmless in small amounts but when ingested by infants it can lead to kidney failure.”

So far being reported in the news four babies have died after drinking milk containing melamine, while another 53,000 have been sickened.

Looks like even Harry Potter can’t escape “excess levels of lead”. These Harry Potter bookends were sold through various school fundraisers and the paint on the bookends contains high levels of lead. *Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.*

Those darn muggles.

I’ve recently had correspondence with a toy retailer in Canada, who is a distributor of “Melissa and Doug” products. When you walk into their stores, they have shelves upon shelves, display cases and window decals of their proud display of Melissa and Doug products. So when I notified them of the most recent recall for the Stackable Train, they told me that they were not going to post the recall notice because they “didn’t sell that particular product”.

First, let’s keep in mind that the primary objective of a toy recall is to notify the public of toys that have been deemed a health risk to children. The most important factor is the success of the recall which is measured by communication to consumers.

Long gone, are the days of singular store loyalty. We now shop online, buy toys from food stores, boutique shops, big box stores, fancy consignment stores, and in shopping centres. Imagine walking from store-to-store not knowing that the product that you purchased has been recalled. Then going home and having your child, their friends, you, etc., continuously exposed to this product.

Some people have said to me, “I try to do my best by limiting the exposure of risks to my child”. And rightfully so, but now imagine if these simple toys in your home are a health risk. It isn’t just one toy — it is many, many toys. I’ve been to stores that have recalled products on their shelves, and online retailers that have the products available for purchase. People still have these toys in their home, so the exposure is much greater because the quantity of products being recalled.

So I completely disagree with this retailers stance on not posting a Melissa and Doug product recall because they didn’t sell that specific toy. I completely object to a “selective” product guarantee or warranty - you either represent the product or you don’t.

Building brand and customer loyalty is based on a quality product and effective communication to your target market. I am a consumer who would spend $30 on coloured blocks, I might not have bought them at your store but if you told me that they were recalled — I would come back to your store for my next purchase.

I started this blog because of the possibility that we were affected by a toy recall. We owned a Melissa and Doug Geometric Stacker which had a recall notice associated to the product.

The very idea that a trusted toy manufacturer, toys that we had brought into our home, had recall notices associated to them pushed me to become a parental advocate for safe toys.

I was angered by my experience with the Melissa and Doug Customer Service process. Mainly because they were assuring me that this was a one time event, and since only one shipment of 300 products went from China directly to Toys R Us Canada, they had isolated the incident and didn`t need to notify their consumers.

I didn`t believe them and I also think it is irresponsible.

How can a massive manufacturer tell me that every batch of their products are tested but then ship directly to retailers? Also, logically, how can anyone believe that a factory in China would actually only paint 300 products with tainted paint?

I believe the problem is much larger.

So I am not surprised, although I am again disappointed with this latest recall by Melissa and Doug and their `Geometric Train`. Testing by Health Canada revealed that the surface paint on batch number GY1207 of the wooden stacking train contains barium in excess of the allowable limit. Approximately 1,146 of the toys were sold in Canada.

Who is tracking the effectiveness of this recall?

There is no notification of the recall on the Melissa and Doug website, Toys R Us does not have the recall posted on its website.

Email Melissa and Doug at Owners@MelissaAndDoug.com urging them that it is time to add a `Recalled Products`section to their website. They currently have 2 product recalls in 1 month.

Being from the “Lip Smacker” generation, I had to post this recall by Bonne Bell because “Some of the clasps, which attach to the zipper pull on these accessory bags, have been determined to contain excess levels of lead. As a result, The Bonne Bell Company, in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, is voluntarily recalling three Smackers collections: Sweet Treats, Sparkle & Shine and Glam It Up; and four BONNEBELL collections: Fresh Pinks, Pretty Pinks, Natural Neutrals and Glamorous Neutrals.”

From my perspective, excess levels of lead (from both the Canadian and American standards) in products marketed towards children or products for children are not a responsible practice. However, I applaud Bonne Bell for following the Canadian Recall procedures (See related post) and going that extra step to actually c-o-m-m-u-n-i-c-a-t-e the recall to their customers.

Here is what Bonne Bell have done:
1. Clearly identified their commitment statement on manufacturing standards and quality — which makes us feel better about buying their products in the future

2. Determined that some of the clasps on these make up bags contain excess levels of lead and they are voluntarily recalling all of the products from the identified UPC codes (and included images).

3. Identified that the product be taken away from children immediately but that no incidents have been reported.

4. Advised affected consumers on the next steps for contacting Bonne Bell (either by phone or email) and they will provide a replacement (free of charge - LOL).

5. Tracking the recall by mailing out a self addressed envelopes to the affected consumers (of which there are 55,000 in Canada).

This is a perfect example of a widely reknown brand and a solid recall statement (however, I don’t know if the product is still on store shelves). Directly from their recall statement: “The Bonne Bell Company solemnly regrets any inconvenience and apologizes for any concern caused by this product recall” and goes on to say “The Bonne Bell Company hopes that you will continue to enjoy our products with confidence. We appreciate your cooperation and assistance with this recall.”

Now, anyone who has tried to follow up on a product recall will know what a frustrating experience it can be. When I contacted Alex Toys about their recall, they considered my questions “general inquiries” and they were focusing on customers that wanted a “replacement” or “retailers that needed to replenish their stock.” I asked the following questions about their recall procedure:

1. If the product was sold through an online retailer, were they instructed to post the recall on their website?
2. Was the recall notification left to the individual Alex representative’s to follow up with their stores or were they able to track the stores that were affected based on batch number?
3. Where were the units sold in Canada?
4. Why were they not posting a recall notice on their corporate site?

To which their response was the following:

“All Canadian retailers that carried the item were notified of the recall and advised if they were a brick and mortar store to post the recall poster for consumer’s sight. Any retailer that further distributed the product (i.e. mail order or web hosted site) were requested to conduct the recall as well. Specific instructions were not given as to how they need to perform this act.

The product was sold to limited specialty and discount stores in Canada, and one mail order retailer.”

On this response alone, I threw out our Alex Toys and will not recommend or buy their products. I made the decision to not buy toy products from companies who either had recalls, and/ or didn’t effectively communicate their recalls to the consumer. But I applaud Bonne Bell for posting the recall on their site because now it is left to the consumer to decide what to do next and that is all “This Girl” is asking so we can make informed decisions when purchasing products for our

There has been a recall on a Children’s Balloon Blowing Kit which “consist of a solvent mixture in a tube and one or more plastic straws for blowing. Children can form balloons or bubbles by dipping the short straw into the solvent and blowing through the straw.” Aside from being so generic in description, I would be stricken with anxiety if this recall hadn’t included pictures. Although, I have never seen a balloon blowing kits which look like these, I did not know that they have been banned in Canada since 1973!

Here is a caption from the recall: “Children can be fascinated with these products, and if they blow balloons for extended periods they may experience early symptoms of central nervous system depression or dysfunction, including euphoria, hallucinations, dizziness, and difficulties with coordination of voluntary movements. Prolonged exposure can lead to more serious symptoms including muscular twitching, unconsciousness, and coma.” — Lovely.

Aside from the obvious safety and central nervous system health issues associated with the prolonged use of this product - this strange little product reiterates to me:

1. That a children’s toy, which has been banned in Canada for 35 years can still be sold to our families in Canada, and specifically at the CNE.

2. Consumers are not told what the contents are of the tube? What are the solvents in this banned product and how many items were sold?

The truth is, if it’s been 35 years, we won’t know.

Of all the toys that are the least likely to cross the threshold of our home are magnetic toys. Quite honestly, I am AMAZED that there is still a market for them on Canada’s toy shelves (especially under the age of 5 group). Playwell Enterpriseshas just issued a recall for “Vehicle Magnetic Blocks”. The recall indicates that testing by Health Canada on the vehicle magnetic block set revealed that pieces of the plastic blocks can “break off into small, sharp pieces, posing choking and laceration hazards to young children”. Although, it did not mention what happened to the magnets…3,371 of the 15 piece vehicle magnetic set were sold in Canada between August 2006 and August 2008.

Oh, and Playwell Enterprises is extending the recall to include their 21 piece vehicle magnetic set, as it *may* present the same hazards yet it is not known how many units were sold in Canada of that product.

I am always baffled how the same manufacturer can know exactly how many products were sold when Health Canada issued a recall (3,371 seems pretty exact) to me, but don’t issue the product size when it is a voluntary recall. Thankfully, Playwell Enterprises has included their Toronto number if consumers have any questions or for a refund (what no toll free number? I know, recalls are expensive).

Did you know that Health Canada has an actual 12-step process for recalling hazardous consumer products in Canada? It’s true and I know this because Alex Toys is telling me that they “have worked with Health Canada on the requirements for the recall and are following their prescribed actions”. You know what, they’re right.

The Health Canada website provides an informative industry guide for recalling consumer products in Canada. Specifically, the “guide is intended to assist you as an importer, manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, or retailer of consumer products to complete an effective recall of unsafe consumer products from the marketplace”. The industry guide also provides definition on what is a recall, when to recall, why recall, and then my favourite section “How to Complete a Product Recall?”.

The How to Complete a Product Recall is actually a defined 12-step process and the Coles Notes version is to first identify that you have a recall and designate someone with the authority and responsibility to follow out the recall process. This responsibility includes isolating any existing products, distributing the very factual recall notice (who, what, where, when, why, how many, and what to do, and contact information - in both official languages), directly contacting the resellers of the product and informing them of the factual recall notice, and then following up to measure the success of the recall.

I was probably the only person in Canada that tested the accuracy of this particular recall by visiting both online, and bricks and mortar stores this weekend so my test pool is small, but this is what I concluded:

1. Manufacturers and retailers are not posting their consumer toy recall notices to their websites.
2. Manufacturers and retailers are not posting their consumer toy recall notices in plain and open sight of consumers.

Do you know why? Because they don’t have to.

Thankfully, Health Canada identifies what products have been recalled, but then indicates to the industry that it “may be necessary to quickly notify consumers if unsafe products are in the Canadian marketplace”, or “to warn consumers, your company may produce and distribute a media release, newspaper advertisement, display signs or point of sale posters to display in retail outlets where the recalled products were sold, and/or post the recall on your company website.”

But what this doesn’t say is that manufacturers of recalled toys have to coordinate any communication of the recall to consumers. Honestly, imagine the advertisements:

using the Flippity Flop product may cause adverse health effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and cramps as well as more severe symptoms. Children’s toys coated with paint containing barium, in excess of the allowable limit, are strictly prohibited in Canada.

Not recommended for children under the age of 15

or

This toy is not recommended if you are also using [Insert another recalled toy here].

Do my eyes deceive me? Is a manufacturer actually coordinating a recall that could communicate to their customer? On the Health Canada website, I read that there was a new recall for “TAGGIES(TM) Strollin’ Along Activity Bar” by International Playthings. The product recall has been issued because there have been 3 reports of young children “mouthing” the shiny fabric which could potentially be a choking hazard (thankfully no choking incidents have been reported).

Could it be that the manufacturer is not only issuing, but POSTING a recall on their website? It’s true! Look, the menu item is also called “Product Recall” — not Product Safety, Product Warranty, Safety Statement, or Product Safety Statement.

Re: Alex Toys “Flippity Flops” - It’s taken almost 6 days to get the notice changed from “Ships within 24 hours” to Temporarily Out of Stock. Although, I am pleased that the product is no longer available for purchase, I am really disappointed that this really reputable Canadian e-retailer did not post the recall notice. Wouldn’t you want to know if a product that you either own or are considering for purchase has a been previously recalled?