According to a consumer safety group, this holiday season's hottest toy is a health hazard to children. Chemical testing by Good Guide found that Mr. Squiggles, a self-propelled furry hamster that's part of the popular Zhu Zhu Pet series, contains high levels of the metal antimony, a known carcinogen. Zhu Zhu's manufacturer disputes this claim with test results that show the Chinese toy meets U.S. safety standards, and Good Guide has softened its warning by pointing out that the carcinogen levels are within federal limits. Did Good Guide rush out a false alarm, or should parents still avoid putting Mr. Squiggles under the tree this Christmas? (Watch an AP video about claims that Mr. Squiggles is unsafe)
Until there's a recall, don't sweat it: I'm all for pointing out toxins in children's toys, but "the Good Guide got it wrong," says Jenn Savedge at the Mother Nature Network. They misunderstood the federal guidelines, or the science, and their results are just plain misleading: By mixing up the levels of soluble antimony and total antimony, they made Mr. Squiggles seem more dangerous than he really is.
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