Unhealthy Cheap Trinkets Turn Up Where You’d Least Expect Them To

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 22:16:31 +0000

Enough, already, with using cheap trinkets to “reward” children for doing what they’re asked to do — from behaving in the doctor’s office to polishing off that last fatty french fry in their Happy Meal, especially when the cheap stuff offered to children to manipulate their behavior is found to have high levels of cadmium. This toxic metal is showing up more and more in trinkets distributed to children, and sadly Federal regulators have discovered that doctors and dentists offices are as guilty as a fast food restaurant in this unhealthy practice. Now, as a chiropractor who is treats both young and old, alike, I’m well aware that the staff in my chiropractic clinic frequently must not only help the injured and infirm to get comfortable prior to their adjustment, they also find themselves “entertaining” children who are either waiting for their own adjustment or waiting for a parent. And, I know my staff is often “inspired” to reward good behavior whether it’s a feisty senior who’s making the effort or a sleepy youngster. So, when it appears that “being good” doesn’t come close enough to being its own reward, my staff offers a healthy treat to children (and to some grownups when needed).

Our treats, however, are not cheap trinkets, though they are not expensive either. We purchase “lollipops” in bulk from the local health food store and small, inexpensive fitness items like stress balls. That’s why when the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced yesterday the recall of almost 70,000 charm bracelet and rings (for the fourth time this year!), we didn’t have to rush to our storage cabinet to pull carcinogenic items from our shelves. The items in this particular recall batch were distributed at doctor and dentist offices nationwide between June 2005 and March 2010.

Let’s face it, not everything “natural” is good for humans to ingest. Cadmium is a naturally occurring metal but it’s not harmless. As a chiropractor I find it especially disturbing that cadmium, if ingested, can weaken bones and kidneys. Federal regulators were justifiably concerned that small children could be exposed if they were bite and suck on these cadmium-laced trinkets. Any adult who’s been around children knows that almost everything that is put into a child’s hand ends up in a child’s mouth. Health care providers can’t claim ignorance of this universal fact.

I can remember getting a toy from my dentist when I was a kid, but “back in the day” those trinkets, made of plastic, rubber, and even wax, were relatively benign. Today with cheap imports and little regulation, more care needs to be taken by parents and definitely by healthcare providers!

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Unhealthy Cheap Trinkets Turn Up Where You’d Least Expect Them To