Comments on: Zhu zhu pets, antimony, the Good Guide and misleading the public

By: Zu Zu Pets

Zu Zu Pets — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 08:12:35 +0000

Thanks for the warning, it’s sad.

By: Cadmium Prompts CPSC Recall of McDonald’s Shrek Forever After Promotional Glasses : The Smart Mama

Sat, 02 Oct 2010 00:27:31 +0000

[...] any cadmium. And, the XRF analyzer detects total and not soluble levels, which, as we know from the Zhu Zhu pets fiasco, can be a big [...]

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 20:12:00 +0000

This is an interesting article. You tend to hear stories a lot like it every now and again – sometimes the ‘facts’ are something to be concerned about without delving too deeply into the subject. However, as you have demonstrated very clearly here, do the homework if you’re not sure and you may well expose some fishy goings on. Thanks.

By: Social Media and Product Liability (or the sad case of Mr. Squiggles) | 3 Green Angels: Social Media Marketing with a Green Twist

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:52:12 +0000

[...] US consumer product safety standards. But GoodGuide was wrong. As TheSmartMama, I published a blog post on Sunday, December 6, 2009, that GoodGuide used x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis to test Mr. [...]

By: CPSIA – More Details on Bogus Zhu Zhu Pet Scare :

CPSIA – More Details on Bogus Zhu Zhu Pet Scare : — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 03:26:04 +0000

[...] the record, I believe the Zhu Zhu Pets scam was first exposed by the TheSmartMama.com in this post. Isn’t it ironic that a “green” activist is the one to expose the lousy work of [...]

By: What’s the Fuss Over Zhu Zhu Pets and Antimony? » Green SAHM

What’s the Fuss Over Zhu Zhu Pets and Antimony? » Green SAHM — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:51:14 +0000

[...] out, however, that the Good Guide used an invalid testing method. The Safe Mama does a great job of explaining that what they found was total antimony, when soluble is what [...]

By: Kathy

Kathy — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:19:34 +0000

This is a great post Jennifer, thanks for sharing it. I hate to say it but I never really liked The Good Guide’s rating to begin with so when their “report” came out I was already skeptical. Your post sealed it for me.

By: Fashion Incubator » Blog Archive » CPSIA Update 12/9/09: Urgent action needed

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:13:18 +0000

[...] antimony levels. However, it is scientifically impossible to measure antimony with an XRF gun as Jennifer Taggert quickly explained. Credit also goes to the CPSC who responded quickly, assuring consumers the Good Guide is wrong. [...]

By: PoisonPill

PoisonPill — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:24:06 +0000

I don’t know about your 3yr old, but mine everything goes in her mouth. Lets see if the standard is 60ppm for a soluble test and goodguide says 93-103 on the surface of the toy, then I would think this is a concern in ANY case. The latest XRF tester is made to test toys for surface contaminates. My zhu zhu pets are going in the garbage in ANY case. You are not helping anyone by saying this is not a concern. So if you own an XRF tester hopefully one of the newer models why don’t you test the toy and post your own results mama? Id rather toss them in the garbage then see my child sick years down the road.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:57:42 +0000

WHOA! That mihaela lica woman is a real piece of work. She reminds me of that, what’s her name?, Hitha Prabhakar woman from last year, only not as articulate (heh). The only response that comes to my mind is explained in this pdf: Unskilled and Unaware of it; How Difficulties in Recognizing One’s Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments http://www.apa.org/journals/features/psp7761121.pdf