During the festive season the folks who pack the shelves at your local supermarket know just how to catch the keen eye of a toddler. The bright packaging and alluring colours make it near impossible for your kids to ignore. Often, they would run to you and very excitedly ask for the item that caught their eye. But what if that toy could cause serious injury and even a trip to the hospital for mom or dad? We have taken a look at the top 10 toys that have been banned due to the ability of the products to cause bodily harm.
10. Cabbage Patch Snacktime Kids
These Cabbage Patch dolls were unique due to their ability to actually chew and swallow pieces of toy food and then deposit the item in a backpack for re-use. The problem with this particular doll? It sometimes mistook small fingers for chew toys. Although they were never actually recalled or banned, approximately 35 reports of these dolls chewing on fingers and even hair were recorded.
9. Sky Dancers
These infamous dolls flew and spun through the air after being launched from a corded plastic plate. They were taken off the market after more than 150 injuries were reported. The damage included cuts to the face, missing teeth, light concussions and even a broken rib.
8. Kinder Surprise Egg
Very similar to what South Africans know simply as ‘Kinder Joy’; the ‘Surprise Egg’ was recalled from American markets after authorities deemed the tiny toys to be choking hazards. Kinder is reportedly working hard to find a way around this ban to once again be able to sell in one of its largest markets.
7. Johnny Rebel Cannon
This pint-sized cannon shot actual mini cannon balls up to 10 meters or more, with terrible aim. The toy was removed after authorities realised kids were in real danger of losing an eye.
6. Burger King Pokeballs
From the popular kids cartoon, Pokemon, these Pokeballs (balls used to contain Pokemon) were given with kids meals at Burger King branches in America. Authorities realised quite fast that the balls were the exact size to fit over the nose and mouth of young children, posing a very real suffocation hazard. If you returned your Pokeball to Burger King, you got a free small chips to say thanks.
5. Lawn Darts
Big darts with sharp points used for target practice on the lawn. The darts were recalled after innumerable injuries to children across Europe and America.
4. Kite Tube
A large 3-metre diameter water tube that a boat was meant to pull. Pulling on the two handles while onboard would send the tube airborne, sometimes up to 8 meters in the air. It was uncontrollable once flying, and would smash the rider face first into the water at speed. It was recalled after 29 people required emergency medical treatment after being thrown off a Kite Tube.
3. Aqua Dots
Small plastic balls that could be arranged into a pattern and when sprayed with water would magically stick together. Problem was that these dots contained a substance known as the date rape drug, GHB. Multiple reports arouse of children slipping into comas, slowed breathing and heart rates, and a host of other medical issues from simply being in contact with the toy. Needless to say, it was taken off shelves and kept in a safe place.
2. Pogo Ball
A plastic platform to stand on with a big rubber ball mounted in the middle. It was meant to be a cool balancing trick toy, but ended up as a toy that sent hundreds crashing face first to the ground.
1. Easy Bake Oven
Toy manufacturer Hasbro recalled over a million Easy Bake Ovens between 2005 and 2006. The mini oven had an actual heating element had a nasty habit of trapping fingers inside the hot oven. Third degree burns and one partial finger amputation later, Hasbro went back to the drawing board.
