KILLER K ATE DOLLS SCARE
Toys are lethal for your kids
DEADLY Princess Kate dolls which could cause cancer are being sold in the run up to Christmas.
Shipments of the “Princess Catherine” toys, which contain banned chemicals, were seized by customs on their way to the UK but there are fears others got through.
DODGY Duchess of Cambridge dolls that could give children cancer have been seized by customs officers.
A shipment of the “Princess Catherine Doll” – which has high levels of the potentially fatal toxic compound DEHP – was intercepted on its way to the UK.
But it is feared many could already have been bought as Christmas presents at shops and markets.
Robert Chantry-Price, lead officer for product safety at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, said: “It is frightening that large quantities of phthalates are still being used in children’s toys, especially as it can cause long-term consequences to a child’s health.
“If these toys fall into the hands of young children or babies it’s more likely they will chew the plastic and consume the chemicals.”
DEHP is used to soften plastics but it is banned in Europe over fears that it can cause cancer and deformities in unborn babies.
The chemical compound – known as a phthalate – could also leave children infertile when they are older.
Its use has been banned in all toys and childcare products in the UK.
A safety alert about the dolls has been issued by EU watchdogs.
Officials have also warned about a string of other killer toys bound for the UK and Europe, including a children’s frog watch, a rattle, a police set containing small parts that could choke a child and a laser toy which could damage eyesight.
An item called Barrel O Slime was found to have such high levels of the chemical boron that it may weaken kids reproductive systems. While a squeezable pack of fries contained a host of chemicals which can cause liver damage.
They claimed the toys were seized because they did not comply with regulations which restrict the use of chemical substances in products sold in Europe. Safety chiefs said while the majority of the Kate dolls were intercepted, others may have sneaked through and ended up on sale on market stalls and in bargain shops.
They are worried that children may chew the dolls or ingest the substance by putting their hands in their mouths after playing with them. The dolls, which are supposed to resemble the Duchess, have long dark hair and a crown on the front of the pink box. On the back are the words “Kate Princess” and “Souvenir”.
A health warning was sparked after a shipment of the toys was seized in the Czech Republic on their way to Britain. Mr Chantry-Price added: “Trading standards are working to tackle this issue but it is vital that consumers remain vigilant too. “Parents should be cautious when buying toys and not go for the first deal they see. “Always buy from reputable retailers, check the packaging contains the distributor’s details and a CE mark and beware of products that are drastically cheaper.”