Toy Danger! Parents Be Warned!
Dear Fellow Parents,
Lately our movement to keep children safe from water beads has resulted in less profits for manufacturers and retailers selling these products. This is a good thing, because it means we are saving lives. But, because of our efforts, companies are evolving their tactics. Knowledge is power. As I've noticed these changes myself, I want to share my observations with you. This way, you can protect your kids not only from water beads, but other hazardous products as well.
Online bloggers, who have been incentivised to write pro water bead articles, are now advising parents to look for water beads labeled with the terms ‘non toxic’ or ‘food grade’. What families are not being told is that both terms are shockingly unregulated!
To display the term ‘non toxic’ on product labels manufacturers are not required to send their products into the CPSC for testing or prior approval. The term ‘non toxic’ is not mentioned in the Federal Hazardous Substances Act so, as a label, due to a lack of legal definition, it is essentially meaningless. Likewise, the term ‘food grade’ refers to materials used inside of manufacturing equipment, not that the products themselves are non toxic or safe for human consumption and there is no organization overseeing the use of the term and no regulation attached to it.
Relying on unregulated terms like ‘non-toxic’ and ‘food grade’ when purchasing toys for children is not only a recipe for disaster, but a dangerous trap. The truth is these terms do not provide a secondary level of protection. Manufacturers are encouraging us to rely on these unregulated terms to mislead us and create a false sense of security about the effectiveness and robustness of the safety measures we have in place to protect our children. The goal is for consumers to think products, like water beads, which can cause severe injury or even death if accidentally ingested or inhaled are safe.
When your child is inevitably hurt by these products, the same so-called "experts" who gave you these recommendations will turn around and accuse you of not providing adequate adult supervision. The media and medical community can propagate this dangerous tactic under the guise of safety tips. For instance, when a parent shares their child's tragic story, and the media leaves out the fact that the child was supervised, it creates the false impression that adult supervision is a foolproof preventative measure, even though it was diligently used and the child still got hurt.
While we all agree that adult supervision is essential, depending on it as your main child safety mechanism is like using a single soldier to guard a castle against a siege. Realistically, it's not going to be enough. Multiple layers of protection are needed to effectively guard against the countless hazards that children face every day. And it's not just the responsibility of parents - manufacturers and retailers must step up and prioritize safety in their product designs. Because let's face it - accidents happen; and in those moments, the design of a product can make all the difference between a minor mishap and a major tragedy.
Protect your children by implementing multiple layers of protection. Prioritize their safety by purchasing toys that are tested well above current product safety standards. Purchase toys from manufacturers and retailers with insurance. Although giant online marketplaces like Amazon are responsible for products sold on their platforms, they are shielded from legal liability by Section 230. This means that if your child is injured by a product purchased on their marketplace shelves, they cannot be held accountable, even if you wouldn't have found the product otherwise. This is not the case if you purchased a product from a brick and mortor retailer like Target, Walmart, or a local business. It's crucial to be aware of these risks and take steps to protect your family.
I hope this information helps you keep your children safe.
Sincerely, That Water Bead Lady