Consumer group issues holiday toy warning

Friday, Nov. 23, 2001 | 9:51 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

WASHINGTON -- Holiday toy shoppers should be wary of hidden dangers, such as small parts that can cause children to choke, a consumer lobbying group warns.

While most toys are safe, dangerous exceptions do wind up on store shelves and websites, said Rachel Weintraub, an attorney with the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. The group released its annual "Trouble in Toyland" report Tuesday.

Weintraub said the greatest danger comes from small balls, balloons and toys with small parts that children can choke on.

The toy industry denounced the report, which includes lists of toys the consumer group deemed dangerous.

"To suggest -- as these hit lists do -- that a toy is potentially dangerous when no real danger exists is simply irresponsible, and creates unnecessary alarm," the Toy Industry Association said in a statement.

Weintraub also said toys that make loud noise can hurt children's hearing.

The government, however, doesn't consider sound from toys a health risk, said Ken Giles, a spokesman for the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Two toy fire engines, a Barney music keyboard, a Sesame Street talking CD player and a toy gun are among seven toys that are dangerously loud and could pose a hearing hazard to young children, the consumer group said.

The seven toys identified as dangerously loud were the Barney Song Magic Keyboard, Electronic Talking Fire Engine, Flame Fighter Rescue Set, Little Smart Tiny Touch Phone Plus, Power Gear Power Saber & Fazer, Power Gear Turbo Blaster, and the Sesame Street Talking CD Player.

More details on the issue are available at these websites:

* PIRG toy report: www.toysafety.net

* Toy Industry Association: www.toy-tia.org

* Consumer Product Safety Commission: www.cpsc.gov