Zhu Zhu Hamsters / Go Go Hamsters in safety scare

[Al-khiyal]

Could a consumer group’s report lead to a Zhu Zhu pet recall?

December 6, 2009 -- Could Mr. Squiggles be harboring too much of two toxic metals? That’s the opinion of Good Guide, which released a review Friday in which it found potentially unsafe levels of tin and antimony on Mr. Squiggles. The report raises questions about whether there will be a Zhu Zhu pets recall. The company that manufactures Zhu Zhu pets, Cepia LLC, reacted strongly to the news, maintaining that there is nothing wrong with its motorized hamsters. “We are disputing the findings of Good Guide and we are 100 percent confident that Mr. Squiggles, and all other Zhu Zhu Toys, are safe and compliant with all U.S. and European standards for consumer health and safety in toys,” said Russ Hornsby, CEO of Cepia LLC, the company that makes Zhu Zhu pets, in a press release.

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 limits antimony to no more than 60 parts per million. Good Guide says it found 93 ppm in Mr. Squiggles’ fur and 103 in its nose. Tests in animals have attributed a series of ailments large-scale consumption of antimony, the Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease says. Yet the DHHS also says it does not “know what other health effects would occur to people who swallow antimony.”

As for tin, the toy industry currently upholds no voluntary standard for acceptable levels of the metal. While acceptable levels for different metals vary widely, consumers can come into contact with tin in some simple ways. Levels of tin approaching 100 ppm in unlacquered tin cans — like those containing light-colored fruit because tin helps maintain the fruit’s color — are possible, according to the DHHS registry. Almost 90 percent of cans, however, are lacquered, according to the registry. The registry goes on to say, “there are no reports of adverse developmental effects in humans exposed to tin or its compounds, or of inorganic tin in animals.”

[Felicity]

If people would just buy (and look after) actual hamsters, there wouldn't be this problem, instead of trying to replace all of the natural creatures in the world with little electronic versions (though I accept if someone is allergic to animal fur)... but then I'm sure the parents would be up in arms when they found the toxic faecal matter that the fluffy little squealing thing produced....

[salma]

Just the sort of thing my daughter would love too.

It's a bit scary to think about really...just have to hope that ''most'' things are tested properly, made safely and that people will be honest.

This was an interesting one it Australia.