10 banned toys you won’t find in stores this festive season

From Lawn Darts, Sky dancers to Easy-Bake ovens – these were some of the toys which were recalled from the shelves for either being extremely dangerous to children or offensive.

Here are the top ten toys that you will not find in stores this festive season:

10. Snack time Cabbage Patch doll

The snack time kids doll was recalled from the store shelves after numerous incidents were reported that it was pulling the children’s hair out by the roots. It was designed with a motorised jaws mechanism which allowed the doll to eat fake plastic food placed in its mouth. These dolls were made without any on/off switch and it emerged that it wouldn’t stop chewing until its mouth was empty.

9. Sky dancers

This toy was recalled from the market when it was established that the foam wings on the doll provided a limited amount of safety with over 100 injuries reported. The manufacturer, Galoob, recalled them in June 2000 after less than six years on the market.

8. Lawn Darts

These toys were initially banned by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in the United States in December 1988.

7. Easy-Bake ovens

The creators of this toy were forced to recall it when it was discovered that a design flaw allowed the oven to easily trap and severely burn children’s tiny little fingers.

6. CSI Fingerprint examination kit

This toy was considered more dangerous than the fake crimes it was being used to investigate. That was because a vial of fingerprint dust included in the box contained industrial-grade asbestos – up to 7 per cent. Exposure to asbestos of this type can lead directly to lung cancer in later life.

5. Sky Rangers Park Flyer Radio Control aeroplanes

These airplanes could be launched by hand and could explode near the consumer’s head, posing a risk of temporary hearing loss and injuries to eyes, face and hands. It was recalled in 2007.

4. Spanish Barbie

This popular toy was subsequently recalled when fans were outraged by its attire of a matador’s costume – usually worn when bulls are ritually killed in a bullring as a public spectacle.

3. Air Pirates Comic

The comic book portrayed Disney characters engaging in very difficult adult behaviour.

2. Atomic Energy Laboratory

This toy used real radioactive materials, one could witness mist trails created by particles of ionising radiation.

1. Splash Off Water Rockets

It used water pressure from a hose to build up energy until children could stomp on the launcher and send the rockets flying.

Sources: Mental Floss