TORONTO - Despite assurances from Ottawa that concerned parents would start seeing fewer toy recalls, the number of children's products pulled from shelves increased by some 40 per cent in 2008, with a potentially toxic and previously undetected threat - barium - tainting seven of those toys.
While lead-laced toys grabbed headlines in 2007 and continued to dominate the recall list this year, barium - a heavy metal - was a new find for Health Canada, lurking mostly in wooden toys with brightly coloured paint.
Used to create pigments in paint, barium is grouped with arsenic and cadmium and its use in children's products is limited in Canada through hazardous products legislation.
"It sounds very ominous," said Bruce Cran, president of the Consumers' Association of Canada.
"It's astounding to us to see some of these poisons and toxins that get into products."
There were no barium-related recalls last year, Health Canada said, because there was simply no testing for it.
"In 2007, due to the number of recalls related to lead content in paint on children's toys, Health Canada focused testing and enforcement activities on lead content," the Ministry of Health said in a statement.
"This year, Health Canada performed testing for all heavy metals (lead, mercury, antimony, arsenic, cadmium, selenium and barium) on 92 painted toys available on the Canadian market."
The federal agency issued the barium-related recalls for the seven children's toys between August and October.
The most recent recall was a toy dump truck under the Fast Lane brand (UPC 803516114007) in October.
The month before, the agency issued a warning on its website about a brightly coloured toy locomotive called the "Stacking Train" by Melissa and Doug (UPC 000772005722 and batch GY1207).
Also in September, a recall was issued for three Kushies Baby brand Zolo Zippy wooden pull toys, including a buggy (item 80020 and UPC 064408800204), a toy named Ozlo ( 80019 and UPC 064408800198) and a toy called Scoot (item 80021 with a 064408800211 UPC code).
In August, notices were issued about four toys. A set of wooden alphabet and number blocks by First Learning (item 8409 and UPC 834162008198). A Galt brand wooden block with four pop-up pegs (product reference AO138L, UPC code of 5011979101389). A wooden domino set with a circus theme, called "Big Top Flippity Flops" by Alex (item 86W and UPC 731346008602). A stacking toy set called "Geometric Stacker" by Melissa and Doug (item 094730, UPC 000772005678, batch ZP1207).
The federal agency said some forms of barium are safely used for medical or commercial purposes, but other forms are toxic. It can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and cramps.
More severe symptoms include difficulty breathing, increased or decreased blood pressure, numbness and muscle paralysis, Health Canada said. In rare cases, exposures to very high levels can be fatal.
Health Canada did not have anyone available for an interview, but said in the statement the department had not received any reports of incidents related to any of the products recalled because of barium.
There were still far more lead recalls in 2008 - some 48 - than barium, and it still appears to be of greater public concern.
As of Dec. 24, there had been 114 children's products recalled in 2008 compared with 82 in 2007.
At least half of the children's products recalled this year for whatever reason - lead content, barium, choking or strangulation hazard - were made in China.
Eleanor Friedland, vice-president of the Consumers Council of Canada, said she was "disturbed" to learn there was such a dramatic increase in toy recalls.
"It drives me nuts," she said. "If we want to trade with countries then they have to have the same type of inspection practices that we have here and if not, stop trading with them for God's sake."
In an interview at the end of 2007, then-Health Minister Tony Clement told The Canadian Press he predicted there would be fewer product recalls this year.
"Companies haven't kept as rigorous a view of the standards on their offshore supply chains," Clement said last December. "A lot of companies have learned their lesson now."
Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, who assumed the post in late October, was not available for comment, but the ministry said in an email that the number of recalls has increased due to several factors.
Heath Canada has increased its targeted sampling and testing program of toys over the past 18 months and many companies are making a more comprehensive effort to inform their customers of any hazards, the ministry said.
At the time of Clement's comments, legislation was moving through the House of Commons that would have cracked down on manufacturers and importers of dangerous products.
It would have also given the government power to force a recall. Under current legislation, recalls are essentially done on a voluntary basis by the manufacturer.
The proposed Canada Consumer Product Safety Act was one of the bills that died on the order paper when the election was called. It had gone through second reading and had been referred to committee when Parliament was dissolved.
The Conservatives noted a commitment to product safety in their Nov. 19 throne speech, but the political turmoil in Ottawa won't help such matters get pushed through the House when Parliament returns at the end of January, in whatever form.
Cran believes the government was making a "very valiant" effort to enhance product safety.
"(However) I don't see any attempt on the part of the manufacturers to be more vigilant," he said.
"I think there's a very solid need at the moment for the minister to have powers to recall and penalize and hold accountable people who are bringing dangerous goods into the country."
For a complete list of products recalled in 2008, go to http://209.217.71.106/PR/home-accueil-e.jsp and choose children's products in Health Canada's drop down category menu.
Here is a list of toys recalled by Health Canada in 2008 due to excess levels of barium:
"Geometric Stacker" by Melissa and Doug
"Stacking Train" by Melissa and Doug
"Pop Up Toy" by Galt
"Zolo Zippy" wooden pull toys by Kushies Baby
"Big Top Flippity Flops" by ALEX
"Wooden Alphabet & Number Blocks" by First Learning
"Toy Dump Truck" by Toys "R" Us
