Be wary of recalled toys when shopping online

Safety standards for toys are understandably high. But that doesn’t help when dangerous recalled toys can still be easily purchased online.

An investigation by CalPIRG Education Fund found that, of 16 toys recalled this year that we tried to buy in October, we were able to purchase half of them, sometimes in multiples. We bought and received 11 different types of recalled toys, totaling more than 30 toys, from U.S.-based online sellers including Facebook Marketplace and eBay, as well as several online toy shops.

As Black Friday and the holiday shopping season arrives, parents need to be vigilant when shopping online. Toy-givers should:

• Check saferproducts.gov periodically to make sure your child’s toy has not been recalled.

• Be aware of choking hazards, especially for young kids. If a toy can fit through a toilet paper roll, it’s small enough to choke on.

• Look for labeling on toys that says it’s nontoxic.