Safety commission reviewing safety concerns about Zhu Zhu robotic hamster toys

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission said today that it was looking into the safety of Zhu Zhu Pets, one of the holiday season’s hottest toys.

Last week, a consumer website raised concerns about the levels of the chemical antimony in one type of the robotic toy hamsters. Over the weekend, manufacturer Cepia said its Mr. Squiggles toy was ‘absolutely safe.’

Here’s the full text of the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s statement:

‘CPSC is working especially hard this time of year to ensure that toys are safe for all children. The agency is proactively evaluating certain toys and we are working with consumer groups to test toys that have been brought to our attention. Parents should know that there is a new child safety law that went into place this year that: 1) lowers lead in toys to some of the lowest levels in the world, 2) bans certain phthalates from toys, and 3) puts federal limits on heavy metals like antimony from being in surface coatings on toys. CPSC is looking into the Zhu Zhu pet toy and we will complete our review swiftly. With new safety measures in place for children and toy recalls down from previous years, consumers can have greater confidence when shopping this year and in the CPSC.’

-- Andrea Chang