Zhu Zhu Pets are the latest toy craze this holiday season. However, according to some safety experts, the stuffed hamster look-alikes contain unsafe levels of tin and antimony. Antimony is a metal with potential health hazards, with a federal limit of 60 parts per million. Zhu Zhu pets’ “Mr. Squiggles” contains 93 parts per million of antimony in his fur, and another 103 parts per million in his nose. Similarly, tin was also found in the Zhu Zhu pets’ fur, which is potentially harmful to the immune and nervous systems.
A consumer safety group, CBS, discovered the high levels of both leads in Zhu Zhu Pets and warns consumers to return the product as soon as possible. Nevertheless, the maker of Zhu Zhu Pets, Cepia LLC, argues that the toys are perfectly safe and that the rumors surrounding the product were conjured up by one website. Cepia LLC has since issued a statement defending their product and is conducting their own testing on Zhu Zhu Pets to check for the dangerous metals.
Information released today indicates that there will be no recall of Zhu Zhu Pets “Mr. Squiggles”. However, given the recent problems with high levels of lead in toys imported from China, it is probably best to be safe than sorry when it comes to purchasing gifts for your children this holiday season.
