What’s scarier than the appearance of Halloween toys? It’s the danger they pose to the health of children patronizing them.
The EcoWaste Coalition has sounded the alarm as unregistered spooky toys start to be sold on the streets as Halloween approaches.
According to the environmental group, it has discovered Halloween playthings in Binondo, Manila that are being sold without the proper authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the regulatory agency in charge of toy and game products.
“Like many toys that have flooded the market, most Halloween toys are sold without proper authorization and labeling. This is most concerning as unauthorized toys have not been assessed for their quality and safety before being placed on store shelves and sold for children's use,” Aileen Lucero, EcoWaste Coalition’s coordinator, said in a statement.
The FDA said using unlicensed toys and baby gear that has not gone through the organization's notification process "may pose health hazards to consumers."
“The use of substandard and possibly adulterated toy and childcare article products may result in health risks including, but not limited to, endocrine disruption and reproductive or development effects; or may result in injury, choking or suffocation due to its small or broken parts,” the FDA said.
The following Halloween toys piqued the EcoWaste Coalition's interest, as well as the potential health and safety hazards they pose:
- Toy make-up set and lipstick that may contain banned ingredients or contaminants that can cause skin irritation, itchiness and other side effects.
- Light-up devil horn headbands with tiny button cell batteries that may get detached and swallowed by a child, causing damage to internal organs and chemical burns.
- Costume masks with fake hair that could be a fire hazard, especially if exposed to a naked flame.
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic toy spiders with over 2,250 parts per million (ppm) of lead.
- Big plastic imitation weapons that can result in blunt force trauma when used improperly.
- Toy axes and swords with sharp edges that can cause abrasions and cuts.