On Decmember 13th, 2007, yet another toy recall was announced.  This recall involves approximately 300,000 toys from Dollar Tree Stores.

I’ve often criticized our Government for wasting money, but allowing lead tainted toys to reach the hands of our children is a display of complete incompetence.

It is becoming evident that our Government can not be trusted to protect our children, so as parents we must take matters into our own hands.

I have been doing some research on testing toys for lead.  Consumer Reports has given a thumbs up to three brands.  The most affordable of these, is the Homax Household Lead Test Kit.  At the time of writing, this kit sells for $5.75 and tests up to four items for toxic levels of lead.

If the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission is unable to perform its duties, maybe their responsibilities should be given to a different agency.  The health of our children can not wait for the CPSC to get off its duff and do its job.  They know large numbers of toys coming into this country contain lead.  Let’s start testing them before they reach store shelves.

Our Government was responsible for crafting the trade agreements that outsourced many of our manufacturing jobs.  It’s ironic that we not only lost many of these manufacturing jobs, but in return receive products that are potentially harmful to our families.

I encourage all readers to contact the CPSC and ask them why they are not actively testing toys before they reach store shelves.

For those concerned about toys that violate the lead paint standard, please review the ever growing recall list.

Since our Government acts after the fact, I still recommend that we test toys for lead before giving them to our children.  There is a link between excessive lead exposure and Autism, so this is a serious issue.  As a parent myself, I know that there is nothing I won’t do to protect my children.  Paying for a few lead test kits is certainly worth protecting my children.

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