Categories: Health Canada Recall Notices

Well, not actually www.thisgirlwearsglasses.com but the Toronto Star had a front page story that found toys with toxic levels of lead were being sold around the Toronto area.

I am shocked.

The reporter (David Bruser) visited various locations around Toronto with a device called the “XRF machine” (how can I get my hands on one!) which determines chemical components of items. The truth is lead is an awful reality for toys on our Canadian shelves (examples: Bonne Bell, Race Car Kit ,Toy Tool Set, Massive Soldier with Machine Gun, Machine Toy Gun, Toy Binoculars, Classic Horseshoe Magnet and if it isn’t lead then another hazardous component in many paints is barium (example: “Zolo Zippy” wooden pull toys by Kushies Baby, “Wooden Alphabet & Number Blocks” by First Learning , “Pop Up” toy by Galt, “Big Top Flippity Flops” by ALEX), “Geometric Stacker” by Melissa & Doug, which were all left unreported by The Star.

I do believe that recall notices by Health Canada can be effective to the consumer – but only if it reaches them. I don’t know many Canadians that browse government websites on a regular basis and since many of these recalls are not being picked up by the media often families or retailers never know of the recall. This is especially true if the recall is for an American manufacturer or importer. If that is the case, Health Canada does not have any jurisdiction so the product could remain on Canadian shelves. The Toronto Star reporter, David Bruser, also highlighted the issue that since there are only 46 inspectors monitoring stores nationwide how effective can they be when enforcing recalls from the store shelves? (Job Wanted: Sign my name up for the 47th inspector!)

We walk the line with recall notices because they do not really provide enough information to make an impact on Canadian consumers, they don`t have to be enforced or associated penalties to American manufacturers and it keeps politely under the radar for our government. An example is “This product was sold in many retail and educational stores across Canada”, “Testing by Health Canada revealed that the surface paint on the toy contains barium in excess of the allowable limit.”, “The paint on the recalled toy boats contains excessive levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.”

Can you be more specific?

When I called Health Canada to discuss these `specifics` such as where were the products sold, I want access to the test results, how much over the allowable limit were the products? I was told that it would be a breach of confidentiality. Who exactly are we trying to protect when we issue recall notices?

P.S. I liked that Chapters-Indigo were mentioned in the article for having unsafe toys available for purchase since I have had to notify them of products that had been recalled and were still available for purchase! They no longer return my emails when I ask them to post the recall notices