Get the Lead Out!

What are they arguing about?

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:00:25 -0600

The House and Senate versions of the product safety bill (HR 4040) are not the same, and the differences matter.

Those harmed by unsafe products speak out

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:49:29 -0600

Andrew Hartung came to Washington D.C. on February 7th to make sure baby products don�t hurt babies. It seems obvious � but will take major reform. So he joined several other families on the Hill to tell the press and Senators how the reforms they are now considering would keep kids safe.

Who can we count on to keep our products safe?

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:32:04 -0600

The Washington Post recently published some White House insider speculation about potential new Chairman for the Consumer Product Safety Commission. (Nancy Nord has been Acting Chairman for the past X months) The front-runner, they say, is Gail Charnley, a consultant with a doctorate in toxicology from MIT.

A banner year for product safety

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:19:31 -0600

From the Consumer Reports Safety Blog: We can�t remember a year when product safety garnered so much public attention. Consumer confidence was shaken as we saw recall after recall on toys, tires, toothpaste, and more. We dubbed 2007 �The Year of the Recall.�

Quiz: Shedding some light on candle safety

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:37:19 -0600

From the Consumer Reports Safety Blog: Candles and holidays go together like Santa and cookies, Chanukah and dreidels. Unfortunately, the candle combination can be a dangerous one when the candles are used carelessly. Just how dangerous? Take the quiz below to find out.

Fisher-Price pulls second lead-tainted blood-pressure cuff off shelves in Illinois

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:01:37 -0600

From the Consumer Reports Safety Blog: Less than two weeks after Fisher-Price removed a lead-tainted red blood pressure cuff from sale in Illinois because the plaything violated that state's lead standards, the Illinois attorney general has announced the same action for a green blood-pressure cuff that is part of another Fisher-Price medical kit.

CPSC: 22 children died in toy-related deaths in 2006

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:25:25 -0600

From the Consumer Reports Safety Blog: While toys with lead paint and tiny magnets have gotten a lot of attention this year, statistics released today by the Consumer Product Safety Commission serve as a sobering reminder that the simple and most classic of toys�balloons, tricycles, scooters and balls�are often just as hazardous.

Open letter to Presidential Candidates:

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:55:48 -0600

CU asks Presidential Candidates to publicly support real food safety and product safety reform.

Nancy Baker: A daughter's drowning leads to pool safety reforms

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:27:08 -0600

From the Consumer Reports Safety Blog: Nancy Baker never envisioned becoming a leading advocate for safer pools and spas. However, the tragic accident that killed her 7-year old daughter Graeme in 2002 prompted her to act. As she says, �It helps me make some sense of something that makes no sense at all. It was an utterly preventable and senseless death.�

What do you want to know about toy safety?

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 15:21:18 -0600

Parents have a lot of questions right now about lead in toys and other products, and want to know what to do. Brett Levy over at DadTalk interviewed me and asked some great questions.

12 TOY SHOPPING TIPS FOR A SAFER HOLIDAY

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 07:40:04 -0600

If you are left feeling a bit scared and confused shopping for children this holiday season, you are not alone. So far this year there have been tens of millions of toys recalled due to lead paint, small magnets, or toxic chemicals.

Shop Safe: Bloggers Unite!

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:33:01 -0600

On the eve of the biggest shopping day of the year, bloggers are talking up our "12 Days of Safe Shopping"!

Safety is a bipartisan issue

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 07:47:35 -0600

It is unusual for Washington DC lawmakers to shed ideological baggage and work across the aisle to get something done--especially during Presidential primary season. But that's what we need to make products safer. Republicans must agree that an unrestrained "free market" got us into this mess, and Democrats must set aside protectionism and focus on a systematic approach to making products safer, wherever they are made. That's what appears to be happening in Washington this month.

The biggest Halloween scare--lead-laden stuff

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:56:10 -0600

So let's recap. Retailers and manufacturers are taking a look at items on store shelves. That's great. They continue to find more items with lead-laden paint, particularly those plastic buckets we buy for our kids to use trick-or-treating. That's not so great.

Agency says, we don't need your help

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:59:19 -0600

Today's Washington Post (requires registration) reports that the Consumer Product Safety Commission has decided to oppose legislation giving it more staff, increased authority, and greater transparency. According to the agency, these things will make us less safe.