Fingerprint Toy Kit May Contain Asbestos

Toy Company Pulls Product Just Before Christmas In Response To Advocacy Group's Concerns

(AP)  Four days before Christmas, Planet Toys Inc. wants stores to remove the company's CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit from their shelves after some tests had revealed samples of asbestos included in the kits.

The New York toy manufacturer sent a "stop sale" notice Friday, according to a statement on the company's Web site saying an investigation is under way into whether the kits pose a health threat to anyone using them.

The announcement comes about three weeks after the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit advocacy group, called on stores to remove the toys from their shelves. Lab studies from the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization showed asbestos in some samples of the kit's fingerprint dust.

A spokesman with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which regulates product safety, said the federal agency is investigating the claims but could not say whether an official recall would be issued for the toy.

"CPSC is aware that certain retailers have begun pulling this product off store shelves and CPSC is investigating whether there is asbestos within the product that can harm children," spokesman Scott Wolfson said.

Walgreens stores removed the toy kits from their shelves Wednesday and is conducting its own investigation, said spokeswoman Carol Hively. "It's a temporary measure while we see for ourselves what the test shows," she said.

Officials at Planet Toys had no immediate comment.

[zootallures2]

Trying to sell amerikkkans World Trade Center dust for x-mas?

[Krazcarl]

Not a great conspirocy just a bunch of cheap chineese going for the easy buck you bought the trash it''s your fault the average man in the street knows chineese stuff is garbage made with slave labor you didn''t really expect a good deal did you? If you did you deserve the trash got to love or hate those republicians they did this to us to make some cash.

[erasmus6]

"OK, one salient fact omitted in this story: manufactured in (you guessed it) CHINA. How misleading to print "New York toy manufacturer". For shame!" posted by theeOracle


Are you SURE that it is manufactured in China or are you just guessing?

Because I can assure you that even stuff made in YOUR country has lead and all sorts of goodies in them. Maybe not as much but it is still there.

[mr_wizard2]

Nancy_Naive: tens of millions of fathers have purchase guns for their sons for hunting for decades. That has not caused any problems. I got mine when I was 11 for Christmas. All these kids shooting up schools and malls -- they are not using their own guns. You really live up to your ID!

[yongamerica]

Brian, need you ask? How many fathers purchase a firearm for their son''''s 13th birthdays in this country? And so say that''''s too late. Nancy_Naive

This shows how naive Nancy is. The toys are more dangerous than the guns. Guns don''t kill people, toys do.

[quietman1977]

If Red China can not conquer us out right; then they will kill our children; WAKE UP AMERICA!

[Krazcarl]

Don''t you love chinese products cheap and worthless,

[thee0racle]

OK, one salient fact omitted in this story: manufactured in (you guessed it) CHINA. How misleading to print "New York toy manufacturer". For shame!

[brianbwb-2009]

A fingerprint kit sold as a toy?

Whats next, tasers?