Safety on display at Toy Fair 2009

In addition to the action heroes and a Barbie about to turn 50, the economy was on display at the 2009 Toy Fair this week in New York. Not only are vendors showcasing lower-priced toys but one tongue-in-cheek offering is a Bernie "Made Off With My Money" Madoff doll that comes equipped with a golden hammer.

Our interest in toys isn't about the price points or Ponzi scheme revenge but, of course, safety. In an interview televised during the event, Don Mays, our resident safety guru, spoke about toy safety issues. He also talked about the new toy safety requirements concerning lead and phthalates that took effect last week.

Safety was also on the minds of the editors of the New York Times who asked in an editorial, "Can the federal government assure consumers that the toys are safe?" Concluding that it could not do so under the current leadership of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the newspaper called on the new administration to "quickly replace the commission’s acting chairwoman, Nancy Nord ... [President Obama] should then choose the kind of enlightened leadership that every parent and toy lover needs and that will give consumer safety the priority it deserves."