Research findings are prompting scientists to urge for ramped up toy safety testing. Tests show that even toddlers can have the bite strength of a family pooch, says Science Daily, a fact that points to potential safety issues regarding toys.

Researchers from the University of Leeds were looking at bite force, toy safety, injury and death prevention, and the behaviors of young children, said Science Daily. Dr. Gary Mountain led the research—the first of its kind in the United Kingdom, Science Daily pointed out. The team concluded that bite-testing standards need to be implemented for toys and that current toy labeling is insufficient in the prevention of toy-related accidents. The team also found, said Science Daily, that poor dental health, weight, and ethnicity all factor into the bite force issue. (more…)

About 220,000 Psyclone Essentials and React Wii 4-Dock Battery Recharge Stations have been recalled because they can overheat, posing a burn or fire hazard to consumers.

According to the recall notice, Griffin International Cos., Inc., of Minneapolis, Minn. has received six reports of Psyclone Essentials and React Wii 4-Dock Battery Recharge Stations overheating. Two consumers reported minor burns to the hand. (more…)

Jump ‘n Jive Doorway Jumpers have been recalled today because the pose a choking hazard. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), about 2,400 Jump ‘n Jive Doorway Jumpers are included in the recall.

The recalled doorway jumpers were made by Graco Children’s Products Inc., of Atlanta, Ga. They include an interactive musical dance mat and two detachable toys. The model number, 1755544, appears on the carton UPC label and on the underside of the jumper tray. The doorway jumpers were sold from April 2009 through July 2009 at Babies R Us and other children’s specialty retail stores nationwide and online from Amazon.com for about $55. (more…)

Russell Brands LLC, of Alexander City, Alabama just recalled about 1,700 Spalding In-Ground Basketball Hoops due to impact hazard, announced the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The Spalding In-Ground Basketball Hoops, which were manufactured in China, were recalled because the bolts at the base can fail, causing the unit to fall, posing a risk of serious injury to consumers. To date, no incidents or injuries have been reported. The recalled Spalding Hoops were sold at MC Sports, Academy Sports, Dunham’s Sports, and other sporting goods stores nationwide for between $600 and $1,700. (more…)

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in an effort to create a permanent oversees presence, is planning on opening an office in Beijing. The office is being set up, in part, reported HeraldTribune.com to better work with both Chinese regulators and companies in China and ensure exports coming into the United States from China are safe, according to agency chairwoman Inez Tenenbaum.

The move follows an unprecedented number of recalls that have involved consumer products, children’s toys, pet food, fish, dairy products, and toothpaste, to name just some, noted HeraldTribune.com. Compounding the issue, in recent months toxic Chinese drywall has been causing illness and raising alarm with residents nationwide. (more…)

Little Tikes Clubhouse Swing Sets are being recalled today because they did not come with assembly directions for the swing seat harness. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), about 1,950 Little Tikes Clubhouse Swing Sets are included in the recall.

The Little Tikes Clubhouse Swing Set is a plastic molded product that features a climbing wall, rope ladder, slide and two swings with blue and yellow seats. Only the blue seat model is being recalled. The model numbers are 400V and 612398. The swing sets were sold at various retailers including Toys R Us and Walmart from October 2008 through March 2009 for about $450. (more…)

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) commissioners have just unanimously voted for draft statement approval for specific “good faith” compliance. Playthings.com reported that the compliance will allow manufacturers credit for good faith regarding tracking label requirements that will be mandated by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) that is effective this August.

“I believe that the guidance unanimously approved by the Commission … will help to achieve the goals of improved recall effectiveness and better protection of consumers while also providing industry with assurance that the Commission does not intend to penalize manufacturers for inadvertent violations of the statute when they have made a good faith effort in attempting to comply with the tracking label requirements,” said the agency’s recently-appointed chairman, Inez Tenenbaum, quoted Playthings. (more…)

LEGO Systems Inc., of Enfield, Connecticut has recalled about 1.600 of its Power Functions IR Remote Controls, the U.S. consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced.

The recall has been initiated because batteries in the LEGO Power Functions IR Remote Controls can overheat, posing a burn hazard to consumers. To date, LEGO Systems Inc. has received four reports of batteries overheating. No injuries have been reported. (more…)

Evenflo Company Inc., of Miamisburg, Ohio has just issued a recall for about 25,000 of its Evenflo Switch-A-Roo Telephone Toys due to choking hazard, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced.

Although no incidents or injuries have been reported, to date, a mirror decal attached to the toy can peel away, posing a potential choking hazard. (more…)

Public Justice and the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) just announced that a proposed settlement of a nationwide class action against CBS Broadcasting, Inc. and major toy retailers, if approved, will give cash refunds to consumers and implement a nationwide recall of toy science kits, based on the popular “CSI” television drama series.

In December 2007, we wrote that the kit was finally recalled by now-bankrupt New York toy maker, Planet Toys, well after lab tests much earlier that month revealed two types of asbestos were present in the toys’ fingerprint powder. With Public Justice as counsel, ADAO met with CBS and Planet Toys representatives in December 2007 to discuss its findings. Planet Toys finally sent a “stop sale” notice to stores while it investigated whether the kits posed a health threat, but refused to stop sales of the Kit, which contained the same fingerprint powder; Planet Toys also refused to voluntarily recall the products from consumers’ homes. The ADAO tests revealed tremolite, one of the deadliest forms of asbestos, was present in the kits. (more…)