Goofy or Deadly? Watch what you buy for children at Christmas

“Goofy String” scared me Straight! Not the string itself, but what I read on the can.

Let me start from the beginning. My eight year old grandson is visiting us for “Camp Meemaw” and he had five dollars burning a hole in his pocket. Meemaw took him to a local Dollar Store. He bought an assortment of kid things from the children’s section of the store.

The next morning while we were all on the deck watching the birds, he decided to surprise meemaw and papa. He sprayed us with “Goofy String” as we laughed aloud. With great vigor and merriment he covered us from head to toe. It all seemed like great harmless fun.

As we laughed and brushed off the “Goofy String,” I picked up the can and read the label. As fast as it started, the laughter stopped. I read the label aloud as my left eye began to sting a bit. Here is what I read in small print on the can of “Goofy String” found in the toy department of a local store, “Caution. Contents under pressure. Do not puncture or incinerate container. Do not use near open flame or heat sources. Do not store at temperatures above 120 F. Keep out of reach of children. Test before use. May stain fabrics and other surfaces. Do not spray at eyes or faces. Do not ingest.” And on the side it says, “Non-flamable”

This caution label was on a can sold to a lone eight year old boy, who found it on the shelves in the toy department at that store in our own community! I am trying to remember if at eight years of age did I know what incinerate or ingest meant.

Now my ire and curiosity were up. My attention turned to what were the ingredients of this spray can that should be kept out of the reach of children. Guess what? The ingredients are listed. The only other information are the simple directions for use by the prohibitive child; the weight at 3 oz.; and that it was Made in China and distributed by Greenbrier International, I.nc., in Chesapeake, VA. 23320.

Let me capsulize the above. A company in China sells something, who knows what,  in a spray can. It has many safety potentials and by all means it must be kept out of the reach of children.

A company in Virginia in the USA distributes it in this country without any further information. Then a company puts it on the shelves of the toy or children’s department for any unsuspecting innocent child to purchase with their birthday money. Have I got it correct so far?

Let me clarify even further. Business people could careless if something is harmful as long as no one notices. Guess what? I noticed.

And Mr. Businessman, it does take a genius to know that things that are labeled “Keep out of reach of children” don’t belong on the shelves where children can reach them, or worse yet buy them.

One of the very first things I learned at New York University’s Safety School of Certification is that labels should be red by the distributer BEFORE it is distributed. Buyer Beware is not for children When it comes to children it is Seller Beware, because we consumers depend upon your honesty.

My grandson has learned a lot from this experience. In fact, he is taking this article back to New York with him for discussion in class when school starts next week or so. I only hope our local merchants are astute. And young customers, Read the Label before you buy.

My left eye still stings.  Be careful what Santa brings this year!