Welch Encourages Holiday Shoppers to Review Annual Toy Safety Guide

HILLSIDE, Ill. – State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, is encouraging consumers to avoid purchasing hazardous products over the upcoming holiday season following the recent release of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s 2017 Safe Shopping Guide.

“People should have the most recent data on the items they plan on buying over the holiday season, as the attorney general’s office has detailed numerous recalls on toys and products this year,” Welch said. “The guide provides that information for consumers to make the safest, soundest and most responsible choices when they make their purchases.”

To help ensure a safe and happy holiday season, Welch recommends that parents review this year’s safety guide, released by the attorney general’s office. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the guide, which includes information about toys that have been recalled due to safety hazards as well as safety tips about toys and games that pose a choking hazard for young children. This year alone, there have been 68 recalls of children’s products by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and Welch is notifying parents to exercise caution before final purchase are made.

“This guide has provided me with very handy information on what I should buy too,” Welch said. “I would not want to buy a dangerous toy for my son or daughter without having prior knowledge on the item, and I hope people would take similar precautions while they shop for their families.”

Attorney General Madigan’s 2017 Safe Shopping Guide can be found here. For more information about recalled products, residents can contact the Recall Hotline at 1-888-414-7678 or sign up to receive recall alerts directly at recalls.gov.