The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning against the possible health risks of glow-in-the-dark lato-lato that did not undergo its quality and safety evaluation.
"Children are seen playing lato-lato toy at Brgy. Culiat in Quezon City on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. Teachers advised students not to bring the toy to school due to noise disturbance. Moreover, some doctors reminded parents to tell their kids to take extra precaution in playing the toy since it may inflict physical injuries. Players were advised to use hand protection and apply ice immediately when got bruised." (Photo courtesy of Noel B. Pabalate | MB)
"The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns the public from purchasing and using the unnotified toy and childcare article (TCCA) product, LATO LATO TOYS WITH HANDLE GLOW IN THE DARK LATTO LATTO TOY TOY TOK TOK OLD SCHOOL TOY ETEK TOY LATO LATO MAKASAR," it said in an advisory dated June 13.
FDA noted that said product was verified by FDA through postmarketing surveillance and showed no valid Certificate of Product Notification as of June 5.
This violates the FDA Act of 2009, where the "manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, advertising, or sponsorship" of any health product without proper authorization is prohibited.
"Since the abovementioned unnotified toy and childcare article product has not gone through the notification process of the FDA, the agency cannot assure their quality and safety. The use of such violative product may pose health risks to consumers," FDA added.
Among the health hazards that substandard and possibly adulterated toys may cause are endocrine disruption, reproductive or developmental effects, injury, choking, or suffocation due to their small or broken parts.
The agency also advised the public to check if their products have been notified by the FDA via the FDA Verification Portal feature accessible on its website.