Gearing up for the Holiday Season, I’ve noticed the increased number of toy recalls.  I’ve been particularly stunned by the reports of lead being found on children’s toys.

Although this FAQ is put out by the Toy Industry (beware of bias), it does appear to be addressing many of my questions:

http://www.toyinfo.org/toy-safety-facts/faq.html

In reading the FAQ, I was alarmed by this tidbit:

The toy industry firmly believes that there should be no impermissible, accessible levels of lead in products used by children. Children’s jewelry is often associated, mistakenly, with toys. It is in fact in another category of product, primarily consisting of high-volume, low-price novelties, and is outside the scope of existing U.S. toy safety standards.

As part of the toy industry’s ongoing efforts on behalf of child safety, in 2006 the Toy Industry Association wrote to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, urging it to set standards for lead in children’s jewelry, as they have done for lead paint and toys.

So toys may be safe, but we can’t guarantee anything ’bout your jewelry.

Time to take my family up to the caves, start whittling wooden toys and weaving hemp bracelets.