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Department of Consumer Protection Halts Sales of “CSI” Fingerprint Toy
HARTFORD, December 19 — Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr. announced that his agency is immediately stopping the sale of the CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit statewide, and is alerting consumers to return the item to the original place of purchase.
“With the success of crime shows like CSI, it’s no surprise that kids want to get in on the excitement by pretending to be crime scene investigators, but our own investigation of the CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit identified a real-life culprit that must be promptly eliminated,” Farrell said. “We are immediately embargoing and recalling this item in Connecticut.”
The Department purchased the toys and Commissioner Farrell moved quickly to contact the Department of Public Health to request testing after reading a report that identified asbestos in the product.
“The swift action by the Department of Public Health was extremely valuable in providing the analysis that we needed,” Farrell said. “Lab results indicate that the composition and crystalline structure of the fibers is most consistent with tremolite, a form of asbestos and a toxic hazardous substance. Given the potential health hazards associated with any asbestos contact, we are removing the item from sale immediately, and are asking consumers to take swift measures to make sure their children aren’t exposed to the product. There is no ‘safe’ level of asbestos.”
Department inspectors are embargoing the product at all retailers statewide, including Sears, Toys ‘R Us, Kay-Bee Toys, Walgreen’s Walmart, Costco, and numerous other stores where it has been sold. A photo of the CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit is attached to this release, and is posted on the Department of Consumer Protection website at www.ct.gov/dcp.
Commissioner Farrell thanked Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Robert Galvin, Environmental Health Division Section Chief Jack Bennett, and staff of both the Environmental Health Division and the State Public Health Laboratory for their prompt and thorough analysis of the CSI Kit. Tests conducted in Connecticut included electronic micrographs and electronic diffraction.
“I’m very grateful for the coordination offered by the Department of Public Health in pursuing the truth about this dangerous item,” Farrell said. “With their help, the CSI kit was also submitted for testing and analysis by the State of New York Department of Public Health, using the most sophisticated means available,” Farrell said. The New York researchers performed an energy-dispersive x-ray on the product.
The Department is sending all relevant information to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which may choose to issue a national recall.
“We are now investigating how the manufacturer, Planet Toys, Inc. of New York, and various retailers responded to the results of the original 18-month scientific study conducted by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), which initially reported the presence of asbestos in the CSI toy,” Farrell said.
From the Planet Toys, Inc. website, it appears that the manufacturer has been aware of ADAO’s news release and the national non-profit Environmental Working Group notified some retailers that the Kit contained asbestos.
“If your child has this toy or if it’s been purchased for holiday gift giving, please bring it back to the retailer immediately and request a refund or store credit,” Farrell said. “If you are not satisfied with the retailer’s response to your return, I encourage you to file a complaint with the Department of Consumer Protection.”
Persons with questions about the recall may call the Department of Consumer Protection at 1-800-842-2649.
