FoodieTots.com

I saw the saddest story on the nightly news last week, about Salvation Army stores pulling all toys from their shelves because they can’t keep up with all the recalls. While it’s nice on the one hand that they are making sure dangerous toys aren’t just unloaded on the less fortunate, it’s awful that they have no or fewer toys available. The Marines’ Toys for Tots program has brought in extra staff just to check donations against recall lists. I picked up an extra wood non-Chinese toy this weekend during our holiday shopping for a local drive — please think about doing the same when you shop!

If you haven’t already seen it, a new site lists toy test results: www.HealthyToys.org. They test for multiple chemicals in addition to lead, like arsenic and mercury. (Why is there arsenic and mercury in toys?!?) I’m relieved to see a Melissa & Doug product on the “best” list (many of their products are made in China) — and disturbed to see Circo shoes on the worst.