2007 was by far the year of the toy recall especially for toy giant Mattel, who recalled over 1 million toys. There little snafu in Chinese toy factories cost the company millions of dollars and may have caused some serious lead poisoning to a lot of children. Anyway, toy recalls are certainly not a new thing. We’ve gone over some of the most dangerous toys of all time that were recalled. Some of you may remember these fabulously fun hazards from your own childhood.
Jarts- the sound of the name alone says “I’m going to poke your eye out”. This toy was meant to be thrown “underhand” into the front lawn. However, if you happened to throw it overhand and it landed in someone’s eye, back, or skull it would certainly stick there. Jarts were pulled off the market in 1988.
New Easy-Bake Oven- Why the tried to re-do the easy-bake oven is beyond me. They created a new and a little girl lost half her finger. Follow the 5 year-old’s partial finger amputation because of severe 3rd degree burn damage this hazardous toy was finally taken off the market. My philosophy? If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
Power-Wheels Motorcycle- Pulled off the market in August 2000 for it’s pedal to the metal like powers, this toys throttle would get stuck and “fail to stop”. Pretty cool toy if your 3 year-old doesn’t mind crashing into a wall on a crazy stunt ride.
Cinderella Battery-Powered Toy Car- There is nothing like a good fire right? Well I guess that’s what the makers of this toy though. The batter compartment UNDER THE SEAT could short circuit posing a fire and burn hazard for the little tush happily placed upon it.
Trek Girl’s Bike- Picture it… your little sister going for a ride down the street you’re watching her as she goes flying.. then BAM! Her bike frame collapses and down she goes wheels have gone rolling and the shiny pink frame is in pieces a top her bruised and scratched and hopefully not fatally injured body. Can’t you see it? Obviously the makers of the Trek MT220 didn’t have safety in mind when they made this bike. The bike frame “may break causing the rider to lose control and suffer injuries.”
Aqua Dots- These little beads are possible the most hazardous on this list due to the mental harm they may cause. This hand bead allowed children to create designs out of the multi-colored beads then spray them with water allowing them to bond and become a sold sculpture. Only problem, if ingested the chemicals on the beads turn into GHB the “date rape” drug.
Sky Dancers- Every little dancers dream of flying came true in this mix between Barbie and a flying fairy. It seemed perfect until little Betty got a concussion from the unpredictable flying pattern of her sky dancer. Even worse, was when little Becky was temporarily blind from being whacked by her sky dancer. The toy was recalled in June of 2000.
Mini-hammocks- in August 1996 after 12 children had fallen prey to the “hanging” power of this hammock it was taken off the market. The mini-hammock, meant for children, was missing spreader bars that would keep it open.
Professor Wacko’s Exothermic Exuberance- After 2 houses were burned down and countless other mini-fires were ignited, the CPSC recalled this science kit meant to teach children how heat and fire are generated through chemical reaction. I’m wondering why they would ever create this toy.
Magnetix Magnet Building Sets- Magnets are cool, but I guess they’re not so cool if ingested. This building set was pulled from the market after a little boy died after ingesting a small piece detached from the set. The magnets are attracted to one another in the body and tear through the intestinal walls. Pretty graphic huh?!
There you have it, 10 awesomely dangerous toys. Aside from the recent lead poisoning scares these toys are the cream of the crop when it comes to killer toys.