Call for ban on eggs with toys
A doctor has called for a ban on chocolate eggs that contain plastic toys. He is particularly concerned about chocolate eggs containing plastic toys, which are legal in the UK but banned in the United States.
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A doctor at Altnagelvin Hospital has called for a ban on chocolate eggs that contain plastic toys.
Dr Alan McKinney, who is a senior consultant at the accident and emergency ward, said hundreds of children have been treated for choking-related problems over the past 17 months.
Dr McKinney said today that between January 2007 and May this year the casualty department treated more than 300 children for choking related injuries or swallowing potentially dangerous household items, including batteries, chemicals, poisons or coins.
He said that all were dangerous but he was particularly concerned about chocolate eggs containing plastic toys, which are legal in the UK but banned in the United States.
Dr McKinney said: “The toy components are relatively small and could easily choke a small child.
“There have been over the years a number of near misses and nationally a number of deaths. I would like to see them banned.”
The ban on the sale of eggs containing plastic toys in the US is based on similar health fears for children.
Source: www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Toy retail giant Woolworth enters Kolkata
The Indian retailing major Spencer has made a deal with Woolworth of UK. This move has made the prospects of the toy market in India much brighter than it used to be. Now, customers can buy high quality toys from Spencer and in addition they can also buy many other products. The first Woolworth store was opened at the South City Mall on Saturday
Kolkata, June 7: The tie-up between Indian retailing major Spencer and the Woolworth PLC of UK has made the prospects of toy industry quite bright in the state. Finally, UK’s retail major Woolworth has succeeded in crossing the threshold and entered the state. The first Woolworth store was opened at the South City Mall on Saturday.
Inaugurating the store at the Spencer, Sanjeev Goenka, Vice Chairman RPG Enterprises said: “Indian toy market is expected to have a growth of 50- 60 per cent within the next couple of years. Since, there are few brands which maintain an actual balance between good selection of toys and their prices, we are hoping to capture the market soon.” In the next 18 months RPG enterprise is going to invest approximately 12000 cr in this business and so far the group has invested 1000 cr.
“People are willing to pay a premium amount of money to buy a toy of superior quality and we are witnessing the benefit across the toy industry in India,” added Goenka.
Apart from toys, Woolworth has a wide variety of products, including food items, electrical items and mobiles, baby shop and clothing, garden and home equipment. Sunil Mittal’s plan to open the cash and carry business in collaboration with US retail major Wal-Mart was not encouraged by the state, while Germany’s Metro Cash & Carry has already been allowed to set up the same business here. And now, in Spencer’s outlet, Woolworth has fixed a place for them. “All of Spencer’s 400 outlets, operating in India, are going to have Chad Valley stores. Initially, Chad Valley is opening with the ‘shop in shop’ idea and that’s why we have collaborated with retail major Spencer. In next 12-18 months, we are planning to set up our stand alone outlets allover India,” said Simon Brown, head of international trade, Woolworth.
Via: www.expressindia.com