Dabawenyos warned to be wary of toys that may contain lead

The panic brought about by toxic China-made milk products may have mellowed down after the health department identified the milk products containing melamine. However, Dabawenyos should still be vigilant and be wary of the toys they are buying for their children especially now that the holiday season is fast approaching.

"While the public's concern about the melamine content of milk products from China seems to be waning down, they should not stop Dabawenyos from being vigilant especially when it comes to the toys they are buying for their children," councilor Rachel Zozobrado said.

Dabawenyos in particular should be wary of buying toys that may contain lead and other poisonous substances that can be harmful to children. Zozobrado said she is not just referring to cheap toys that Dabawenyos can easily buy from the sidewalks but also to other more expensive toys that can look harmless but can still contain harmful chemicals.

She cited that even toy giant Mattel recalled over 9 million China-made toys last year for fear that the toys may have contained lead and tiny magnets that can be swallowed by children. Among those recalled by Mattel are selected Barbie dolls and selected Batman action figures. Over 253,000 die cast models of "Sarge" which became popular in the Cars movie were also recalled during the same period.

The Department of Health has already reminded the public to make sure that the toys they are buying especially this Christmas season are safe for children and have passed the do's and don't of toy safety..

As per the DOH advisory, she said, consumers should always check instructions for use and precautions written on the labels of the toy packaging. They should also make sure that the toys they buy are suitable for the mental and physical age of the child.

"There are age-appropriate toys and parents should make sure not to give toys measuring 1.75 inches or less to children of very young age to avoid choking on them," she said.