Reitz Encourages Parents to Check Safe Shopping Guide During Holiday Season

RED BUD, Ill. – As families continue gift shopping for the upcoming holidays, state Rep. Nathan Reitz, D-Steeleville, is encouraging parents to check the Attorney General’s Safe Shopping Guide and to avoid purchasing gifts and toys that could potentially be dangerous for small children.  

“Christmas and the holiday season is all about cherishing our families and spending time with the people we love,” said Reitz. “Since the holiday season also often includes giving gifts to the important people in our lives, I strongly encourage parents, especially those with small children, to consider checking the safe shopping guide to make sure they are not purchasing toys that could be dangerous. This includes toys with small, easy to swallow parts, those that contain lead or are flammable.” 

Reitz is encouraging parents to read the Illinois Attorney General’s 2019 Safe Shopping Guide as the holiday shopping season continues. For over a decade, the attorney general has published a safe shopping guide that includes products that have been recalled due to safety hazards to help parents avoid dangerous purchases for children or remove those products they already own from their home. Caution should also be exercised when purchasing from second-hand sellers, as these toys may have been listed in previous editions of the toy safety guide. To view the Illinois Attorney General’s 2019 Safe Shopping Guide, parents should visit their website at http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/Safe_Shopping_guide_2019.pdf

“Families should also keep in mind that toys that have not been recalled can still be dangerous, so by familiarizing yourself with the Safe Shopping Guide you can ensure that you are giving safe gifts this holiday season,” continued Reitz. “This guide helps families focus on what is important this holiday season with the peace of mind that the toys they’ve purchased are safe for their children.”

For more information about the 2019 Attorney General’s Safe Shopping Guide you may contact their product recall hotline at 1-888-414-7678 (TTY: 1-800-964-3013), or reach out to Rep. Reitz’s constituent service office at 618-282-7284 or RepNReitz@gmail.com.