The annual “Dirty Dozen” list of unsafe toys released by the Empire State Consumer Project this week includes stationery and other products made partly of elephant droppings.
The Rochester-based group says the “Ellie Poo” products are made in Sri Lanka and have a good purpose: saving live elephants. But there aren’t any standards for them and they aren’t tested to make sure bacteria from elephant dung doesn’t get into the finished notepads and other products.
Project Director Judy Braiman says you can add to the “avoid” list Chinese-made kid’s jewelry that often contains lead and cadmium in toxic amounts; cheap modeling clay that may also have toxins and pacifiers with stuffed animals attached; they’re a risk to sleeping infants. They also say you should avoid crib toys and bumpers in geenral.
This is the 45th year the Consumer Project has released their dangerous toys and products list.