Zhu Zhu Pets Toxic, Recall Needed, Consumers Say

Those adorable Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters, Mr. Squiggles, Pipsqueek, Patches, Num Nums and Chunk that parents were snapping up like hotcakes may not be as harmless as they look, and a consumer group is saying they are toxic and should be recalled.

All over America, toy retailers such as Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, and even the online giant Amazon.com were selling as many Zhu Zhu Pets as they could get their hands on, and parents were eager to buy as gifts to satisfy their demanding children who put at the top of their Christmas wish list not only a toy hamster but also probably the wheel, adventure ball and funhouse that were sold separately.

Pronounced "zoo zoo", zhu zhu hamsters are battery powered plush animals designed for kids between four and ten years old who are probably not responsible enough to care for a live animal. At the push of a button, Mr. Squiggles and his pals can be programmed to, for example, explore their surroundings, or stay still to be cuddled. At prices in the $29 to $49 range, these were not cheap.

But now, a watchdog group named Good Guide is making the claim Zhu Zhu Pets may pose a health risk. A spokesperson for the group of consumer advocates has said that they "found a chemical called antimony, which is a metal with potential health hazards" on the Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Mr. Squiggles. They said that the toy "contains tin, which is potentially harmful to the immune and nervous systems," and that it also "contains antimony, which may be linked to cancer, lung, and heart problems."

The recommendation of Good Guide is reportedly that anyone who bought one of these toys and now believes it is not safe enough for their children to play with should either return the item to the store from which they purchased it or contact the company that made them.

Zhu Zhu Pets are manufactured by the Cepia LLC company, that refers to their toys as innovative realistic interactive plush toys with artificial intelligence. Zhu Zhu pet hamsters are made in China.

Should Zhu Zhu Pets Be Recalled?

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