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Parents Have Trouble Finding Toys Not Made in China
The Vancouver Sun ^ | August 15, 2007 | By Carly Weeks

Posted on 08/15/2007 7:53:38 PM PDT by JACKRUSSELL

(OTTAWA) - Fears of shoddy and dangerous toys pouring into Canada from China are prompting parents across the country to seek safer alternatives following a large-scale recall announced by Mattel this week. But many are finding it's a nearly impossible task because the majority of the world's toys come from China.

"It's really difficult to find anything," said Keely Dennis, mother of a one-year-old boy in Vancouver. "It's really hard to find toys that aren't made in China that are age-appropriate, and are just cool, that your kid will play with."

For the second time in two weeks, the toy giant began recalling millions of Chinese-made toys over concerns that small parts could pose choking hazards and that excessive amounts of lead may be present. This is the latest in a string of problems that are raising doubts over the safety and quality of Chinese products, including toothpaste and pet food.

But parents trying to avoid potentially risky imports are having a hard time keeping Chinese-made products out of their children's toy boxes. An estimated 80 per cent of the world's toys are made in China, and even many European or North American companies that appear to offer safer alternatives produce many of their toys in China.

Now even all-natural and organic toy retailers that tout their products as safe are finding out how hard it is to escape the ubiquitous made-in-China label.

"A lot of my toys do say that they're designed in a certain country but made in China," said Dana Johnson, who runs Florida-based Three Sisters Toys, which describes itself as an all-natural toy retailer. "Quite frankly, I'm still in the process of trying to get in touch with some of the manufacturers."

It was only after the recent spate of toy recalls that Baby Naturopathics, a Hamilton, Ont.-based online retailer specializing in natural and organic baby products, realized it's also selling products made in China.

"The manufacturers do not advertise this. They present themselves as being entirely made in Europe," said Cindy Cho, part-owner of the business. "Then, only when you look at the box do you realize that maybe that's not the case or if you do research online."

The company is now struggling to figure out what to do and is considering no longer buying products from any manufacturer that produces goods in China.

"Unfortunately, we found out that quite a few European toys are made in China as well," Cho said. "A few years ago that wasn't the case. Increasingly, more companies are making their products in China. We're going to have to re-evaluate."

Mattel's most recent toy recall is serving to fuel a larger backlash against products made in China, which could have a lasting impact on the economy if the situation doesn't improve, according to Paul Beamish, director of the Asian Management Institute at the University of Western Ontario's Richard Ivey School of Business in London, Ont.

"If this problem persists, if we see a whole lot of ongoing product recalls from China, then it has much greater implications for consumers because they will stop, at the extreme, or reduce their purchasing, or start looking for alternative sources," he said. "The big thing that has to change is more rigorous and vigorous enforcement of the quality standards that already exist."

For parents like Dennis, the recent safety scares involving Chinese-made products are both disheartening and frightening.

"The first thing it makes me think is these companies are only thinking about money. They want to make money, they're outsourcing their manufacturing and basically contributing to exploitation," Dennis said.

It's also frustrating that China is producing nearly all of the toys on store shelves in today's marketplace, even if they aren't meeting North American quality and safety standards. It's a reality she hopes will change soon. 

"I think that if we can force these companies to change the way they manufacture and market their toys, other companies will follow suit as well," she said. "Unless you make the toys yourself, what are your kids going to play with?"


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; chinesetoys; dangeroustoys; freetrade; toxicchina
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To: JACKRUSSELL

Even the joys of my childhood fifty years ago, Lionel electric trains, are now produced in China - it hurts....


21 posted on 08/15/2007 8:35:21 PM PDT by Intolerant in NJ
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To: JACKRUSSELL
Parents Have Trouble Finding Toys Not Made in China

Oh, come on, parents!!! Be creative.

Sticks aren't made in China. Merry Christmas, Bobby!

"Wow, Mom and Dad... That's a BIG one!"

22 posted on 08/15/2007 8:36:15 PM PDT by 69ConvertibleFirebird (Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.)
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To: JACKRUSSELL
instead of toys from China should they play with themselves? Man I long for days when I ran around with a pair of american made scissors.
23 posted on 08/15/2007 8:36:17 PM PDT by samp in mo
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To: gcruse

No jack-in-the-box?

My favorite thing to do, when little, was to get into Grandma’s junk drawer next to the sink with the big water pump, and try to organize it for her. (While Grandpa worked on the black walnuts in the kitchen.)

I still treasure those memories.


24 posted on 08/15/2007 8:38:59 PM PDT by yorkie
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To: sweetiepiezer

Thanks for the urls


25 posted on 08/15/2007 8:40:09 PM PDT by misterrob (There's no difference between a knee jerk liberal and a knee jerk conservative.)
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To: JACKRUSSELL

I used to make a wicked flying machine out of 5 Popsicle sticks. No magnets and no lead paint. But that was a different world.


26 posted on 08/15/2007 8:40:38 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer ("Is it hot in here or is it just me?" - Algore, Son of Gaia.)
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To: misterrob

When I want to find out about something J and J made I came across this site. Has a lot of info.
http://www.coopamerica.org/programs/rs/profile.cfm?id=246


27 posted on 08/15/2007 8:45:58 PM PDT by sweetiepiezer (Part of the RIGHT-Wing Machine.)
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To: yorkie

One year, I got into the cabinet under the sink looking for my Xmas present, finding what I thought Santa had left — pots and pans.

I played with them all day.


28 posted on 08/15/2007 8:49:42 PM PDT by gcruse (Let's strike Iran while it's hot.)
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To: luckystarmom

Brown paper sack with a note from Mom telling me how much she loved me x 4 kids. Not worth much on ebay, but pry that memory from my cold, dead hands.


29 posted on 08/15/2007 8:51:08 PM PDT by Eagles6
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To: misterrob

These are all made supposedly in the USA, but some do have global plants for other items.
From:
http://travel.discovery.com/Ratzenberger-America_Goods_Goods.shtml

Goods A-Z3M (Scotch Tape)

Airstream

All American Hot Dog Carts

All-Clad Metalcrafters Inc.

Allen-Edmonds

Alliance Rubber Company

American Champion Aircraft

American IronHorse Motorcycle Company

American Paper Optics

American Printing House for the Blind Inc.

American Whistle Corporation

Anheuser-Busch Inc.

Annin & Co. Flags

A.R.T. Research Enterprises

Astro-Physics, Inc.

Astroland Amusement Park

Automatic Dishwasher

Bach Stradivarius Trumpets

Ball Corporation

Banana Split

Barre Granite

Becker Surfboard Co.

The Belden Brick Company

Benjamin Moore & Co.

Betts Springs

Binney & Smith Inc. (Silly Putty)

Bodine Corporation

Boudin Bakery

Brooks Brothers

Burroughs Adding Machine

Burt’s Bees

California Zephyr Train

Campbell’s Soup

Cannondale Bikes

Cape Cod Chips

Carousel Magic

Caterpillar

Celestial Seasonings

Charles Machine Works

ChemArt Company

Chris-Craft

Coca-Cola

Columbus Washboard Company

Commscope Cable Co.

Corvette

Craftsman Tools

Crane & Co.

Crayola

The Creegan Company Animatronics

CUTCO

DaimlerChrysler Corporation

Dairy Queen

Deering Banjos

Delta Faucets

Delta Scientific Co.

Derecktor Ferryboats

Diamond Match Company

Dr Pepper

Duncan Parking Meters

Duraflame

Eli Bridge Company

Emeco, The Aluminum Chair Company

E-ONE Firetrucks

Ettore Products

Everlast

Fender Musical Instruments

Firefly Hot Air Balloons

Fisher Space Pen Co.

Fleer Trading Cards

Fleetwood RVs

Ford Gumball Co.

Ford (Model T)

Franklin Art Glass

French Luggage

Frito-Lay

The Frye Company

Fuller Brush Company

G&T Conveyor

Garrett Metal Detectors

Gatorade

GE Transportation

General Mills (Wheaties)

Gibson Bagpipes Inc.

Gibson Guitars

Globe Firefighter Suits

Goodyear Tires

Hall Manufacturing

Hallmark Cards

Harley Davidson Motorcycles

Hartmann Luggage

Hawaiian Tropic

HC Duke & Son Inc.

Head-Penn

Herman Miller Inc.

Highlights Magazines

Holiday Tree & Trim Company

Homer Laughlin China Company

Honeywell Life Safety

Howard Johnson

In-Sink-Erator

Ivory Soap

Jack Daniel’s

Jacuzzi

Jaws of Life

Jell-O

John Deere Combines

Johnson Woolen Mills

Jostens Inc.

Kellogg’s

KitchenAid Mixers

Knotts Berry Farm

Kohler

Lockheed Constellation Planes

Longaberger Baskets

Louisville Slugger

Lowell Boats

Lyon & Healy Harps Inc.

Mack Trucks Inc.

Maker’s Mark Distillery Inc.

Maple Landmark Woodcraft

Marble King

Martin Guitars

Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider

Marx Toys

Medtronic

Merillat

Merle Norman Cosmetics

Milgard Windows

ML Leddy’s Boot & Saddlery

Monopoly

Morton Salt

Mosser Glass Co.

Mrs. Grossman’s Paper Company)

National Cash Register Co.

New England Confectionary Company

New Era Baseball Caps

Nocona Sporting Goods

Oscar Meyer Weiner

Pan American Clipper

Panavision

Panoz Convertibles

Pelican Products Inc.

Pendleton Woolen Mills

Pepsi-Cola

Phoenix Decorating Company

Powell Skateboards

Purity Dairies

Pyrex

QubicaAMF

Raytheon Microwave Ovens

Red Wing Shoes

Remo Drums

RGM Watch Company

Robinson Helicopter

Rodgers Instruments

Round House

R.S. Owens Company

Rubbermaid

Sage Fly Fishing Rod

The Samuel Adams Brewery

Sand Trix

Sargent and Greenleaf

Sawbones

Sebastiani Winery

Segway

Serta

Shawnee Mills

Shelton’s Better Packages

Sikorsky

Silvercrest Western Home Corporation

Skee-Ball, Inc.

Slinky Toys

Smiths Medical Inc.

Spam

Starbucks

Starrett (Precision Calipers)

Steelcase

Steinway

Stetson

Stern Pinball

Steuben Crystal

Stickley Furniture

Stormy Kromer Caps

Sturm, Ruger Firearms

Sub-Zero

Sunkist / Limoneira

Swanson TV Dinners

Tabasco

Tillamook Cheese

Titleist

Tom’s of Maine Inc

Tootsie Roll

Toro Company

Trek Bicycle Corporation

Tums and Co.

Twinkie

Tyco Safety Products/Ansul

Tylenol

United States Playing Card Company

U.S. Mint

US Pole

U.S. Steel

USA Today

Vermont Teddy Bear Co.

V.H. Blackinton & Co. Inc.

Vitalie

Walt Disney Pictures

WD-40

Weber Grills

Welch’s Grape Juice

WET Design

Weyerhaeuser Company

Whitman’s Chocolates

Wiffle Ball

Wigwam Mills

Wilson Football Factory

WL Gore & Associates

Wolf Coach Emergency Vehicles

Wonder Bread

Yankee Candle Factory

Zamboni

Zildjian (Cymbals)

Zippo


30 posted on 08/15/2007 8:51:26 PM PDT by sweetiepiezer (Part of the RIGHT-Wing Machine.)
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To: sweetiepiezer

Yep, I remember playing....”Simon Says”......


31 posted on 08/15/2007 8:56:27 PM PDT by goodnesswins (Being Challenged Builds Character! Being Coddled Destroys Character!)
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To: gcruse

LOL! My grandma’s sink had a fabric skirt around it, held up by elastic. Just a pipe underneath that skirt, which led to the well. My siblings and cousins used to hide under there, and pretend we were Native American Indians, in a TeePee. LOL.


32 posted on 08/15/2007 8:59:32 PM PDT by yorkie
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To: Tired of Taxes

YEP.....too much stuff....I once took about 3 boxes of stuffed animals out of my daughter-in-law’s kids room (3 step-grandkids)......they never EVEN MISSED THEM! Course they had 3 sets of grandparents....my son is her 3rd husband. Sigh. We have, through the years given them what they probably think is “weird” stuff....but, they probably won’t forget them!


33 posted on 08/15/2007 9:00:20 PM PDT by goodnesswins (Being Challenged Builds Character! Being Coddled Destroys Character!)
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To: JACKRUSSELL

I smell a rat(conspiracy). The anti-China made consortium couldn’t get our big box stores to stop purchasing from China so they turn to the next weapon. Find fault with everything made in China. Lead in bibs? Who will prove otherwise? This just ices my theory.


34 posted on 08/15/2007 9:01:45 PM PDT by taxesareforever (Never forget Matt Maupin)
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To: gcruse

My 6 year old loves playing with Lincoln Logs. I’d say the amount of toys you had were just right for a kid. I probably had just as many toys.

My own kids seem to have much more including videogames, sports equipment, computers, and literally thousands of Lego pieces.

My grandmother played with a sock in the 1920’s. Her mother would not buy her a doll. But she learned how to make dolls out of her old socks, and eventually she became an excellent seamstress.


35 posted on 08/15/2007 9:04:08 PM PDT by Tired of Taxes (Dad, I will always think of you.)
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To: goodnesswins

Well, I remembered making knitting on old thread wooden spools that had 4 nails in them.
So I had a couple of them, had hubby put some nails in them and my grandkids, ages 9 and 10 sit for hours making clothes for their dolls and their dog.
We used to make circle rugs. Anyone else remember.
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_needlework_knitting/article/0,1789,HGTV_3263_1397466,00.html
Type spool knitting into google and up comes a lot of ideas.
This is for girls, but after raising three boys, enjoyed it with them.

This week we are making popuuri bags for their rooms.
A lot of things to do instead of tv, computers, cheap toys from China.
I always try to spend quality time with them.

Always have my kite in the trunk of my car,got to be ready.


36 posted on 08/15/2007 9:05:40 PM PDT by sweetiepiezer (Part of the RIGHT-Wing Machine.)
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To: JACKRUSSELL

buy a saw, some nails and bits of lumber...make your own damn toys like I did!


37 posted on 08/15/2007 9:06:51 PM PDT by AngelesCrestHighway
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To: goodnesswins

My kids accumulated tons of stuffed animals, too, but they played with them all. I’ve been cleaning house this summer, and I had to talk them out of each stuffed animal one by one. LOL.


38 posted on 08/15/2007 9:08:07 PM PDT by Tired of Taxes (Dad, I will always think of you.)
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To: Tired of Taxes

“My grandmother played with a sock in the 1920’s.’

LOL or *sniff*? I don’t know whether to laff or cry at that.


39 posted on 08/15/2007 9:09:41 PM PDT by gcruse (Let's strike Iran while it's hot.)
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To: sweetiepiezer

Yes....my grandkids asked us once if our TV was broken! We said, NO....we just want to DO things with you!


40 posted on 08/15/2007 9:15:28 PM PDT by goodnesswins (Being Challenged Builds Character! Being Coddled Destroys Character!)
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