Group: Parents need to watch for hazardous toys

Evan Alexander, 3, left, and Dylan Grensel, 2, play with some safe toys in the Children's Choice Daycare facility after a press conference at the Children's Choice Learning Center at Tampa General Hospital today.

TAMPA -- Despite the recent wave of toy recalls, hazardous toys are still on the market, consumer advocates warned today at a news conference in Tampa.

Increased inspections and stiffer punishments for makers of unsafe toys are needed to protect children, said leaders of the Florida Public Interest Research Group, who released their annual toy safety report, "Trouble in Toyland." They were joined at Tuesday's news conference by U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, one of 150 co-sponsors of legislation to crack down on unsafe toys.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission desperately needs more funding and more inspectors, Castor said. The agency has only one inspector for toys, she said.

"Frankly, this is outrageous," Castor said. "Unfortunately, this agency has been starved for resources over the years."

Parents need to be vigilant as they shop for toys this holiday season, consumer advocates said. Common hazards include lead paint, magnetic toys, and choking hazards. Lead is a poison that can cause neurological problems. If children swallow more than one magnet, they can stick together inside a child's body, causing intestinal damage or other problems. And even if a toy doesn't have small parts, parents should inspect it for pieces that can break off, creating a choking hazard.

- Lisa Greene, Times staff writer