‘Toxic Toys R Us’ campaign exposes danger of PVC

Saturday, November 27, 2010

The holidays are fast approaching and many consumers will be looking for that special toy or gift for the babies and young children on their gift lists. Consumer Action wants parents and others to have the information we need to purchase safe, non-toxic gifts for our children.

Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC—the "poison plastic"—is toxic to children's health and the environment. Chemicals released in PVC’s lifecycle have been linked to chronic diseases in children, including asthma, learning and developmental disabilities, obesity, and cancer. These chemicals are being phased out of many products in the United States, Canada, and European Union over health concerns.

Consumer Action has joined the Center for Health, Environment & Justice, the Teamsters Office of Consumer Affairs and other worker and consumer protection organizations to spread the word that toys being sold at Toys“R”Us still contain PVCs, despite the corporation’s pledge to reduce the use of PVC and offer more PVC-free products. Independent testing of juvenile products purchased at Toys“R”Us shows the use of PVC is still prevalent. And, these products are not being labeled as to the dangers.

You can go to a new website that exposes the dangers (www.toxictoysrus.com) to find out more, take action, and sign-up to get updates about PVCs in the playthings sold by Toys“R”Us.

In 2008, following waves of toy recalls and growing consumer demand for safer, PVC-free children’s products, Toys“R”Us pledged to phase out the sale of toys containing lead or phthalates, reduce the use of PVC, and offer more PVC-free products. Toys“R”Us is the largest specialty retailer of toys in the United States, and operates under the Toys“R”Us, F.A.O. Schwartz, and Babies“R”Us retail brand names. With over $13 billion in annual revenues, and over 1,550 stores worldwide, Toys“R”Us has a major influence on the toy market. As one of the largest toy retailers in the world, Toys“R”Us has the power and the responsibility to sell toys that are safe for our health and the environment and free of harmful plastics such as PVC.