Slingshot, Plastic Hammer, Flying Superman Make W.A.T.C.H. List Of 'Worst Toys'
BOSTON (CBS) -- A local consumer watchdog group released its annual list of dangerous toys for the holiday season Tuesday, while the toy industry claimed the group is needlessly frightening parents.
World Against Toys Causing Harm (W.A.T.C.H.) unveiled its list of the "10 Worst Toys" for 2016 at a news conference at Franciscan Children's Hospital in Brighton.
An elephant pillow, a slimeball slingshot, plastic body bumpers, a flying Superman, and a large plastic hammer all made the list for various reasons because, the group claims, the toys could cause puncture wounds, suffocate a child or cause a toddler to choke.
Joan Siff, president of W.A.T.C.H., says their efforts are all about helping parents and kids.
"There are steps parents can take to have a safer holiday season while doing their toy shopping. Our hope for the future is that no dangerous toys will be found on toy store shelves. But until that happens, if parents walk into stores armed with knowledge of hazards that have happened in the past, then they can have a happier holiday season," Siff said Tuesday.
Rebecca Mond of The Toy Industry Association responded by pointing out toys made in the U.S. are among the safest in the world.
"The United States is the global leader when it comes to toy safety efforts. But certainly, parents can be assured that toys, no matter where they're manufactured, need to comply with very strict U.S. product safety requirements," Mond said.
In past years, W.A.T.C.H. has highlighted items like a "Catapencil" and "Bottle Rocket Party."
The Boston-based group has been listing it's dangerous toys for the holidays every year since 1973.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports
