• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock

2

‘I want to die broke’: Billionaire philanthropist Denny Sanford dies after giving away $4 billion

3

'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic

1

Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock

2

‘I want to die broke’: Billionaire philanthropist Denny Sanford dies after giving away $4 billion

3

'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic
RetailToys

Black Panther Slash Claws and Nerf Rapid Disc Shooter Among Group’s Picks for Worst Toys of 2018

By
Glenn Fleishman
Glenn Fleishman
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Glenn Fleishman
Glenn Fleishman
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 14, 2018, 6:45 PM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Marvel Black Panther “slash claws,” a plush ceiling nightlight projector for babies, and a Nerf disc blaster made the list of the 10 worst toys of 2018 from the World Against Toys Causing Harm (WATCH) group.

True, the Marvel-branded slash claws come with a “caution” label on the box that reads, “Do not hit or swing at people or animals,” but the product is advertised with the text, “Kids can imagine slashing into action like the warrior hero, Black Panther.” The recommended minimum age? 5 years old. Marvel, which licenses its product to many toy makers, didn’t immediately reply to a request from Fortune for comment.

And while a projector aimed at the “0+” crowd warns “product is not intended for crib,” it’s made of colorful plush with small parts that could be torn off—and carries a warning that “Battery acid leakage can cause personal injury.”

WATCH said that because an increasing percentage of holiday shopping takes place on line, parents don’t evaluate a product in person, and rely on representations and information at e-commerce sites. This can be problematic when product warnings and other data aren’t included. On Amazon’s page for the Black Panther claws, no warnings appear. On Target’s page, the only warning is about small parts making it unsuitable for kids under 3 years old, even though the age recommendation elsewhere on the page is for 5 years and older.

The nonprofit WATCH has presented a top 10 list annually since 1973 of toys that appear to have significant safety risks for intended age groups or any age to highlight the continued presence in toys of pieces, designs, or functions known to cause harm or even death.

The Toy Association, which represents many toy manufacturers, including most of those on this year’s list, also annually puts out a statement that said WATCH and other groups’ lists “are consistently riddled with inaccuracies and unnecessarily frighten families.” Though it didn’t mention WATCH by name, this year’s statement was issued the same day as WATCH’s press conference, Nov. 13.

The association points out that the incidence of injury in the U.S. is exceptionally low in absolute terms and compared with most of the rest of the world. It notes that 0.003% of 3 billion toys sold each year are recalled, and that such recalls have declined in recent years.

However, high volume means that low percentage still involves 240,000 toy-related injuries treated in hospital rooms in 2016 and reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), as well as 35 deaths from 2014 to 2016. The deaths largely involved scooters without motors and choking or asphyxiation from balloons. Millions of children’s toys have been recalled in recent years, but it’s impossible for retailers to contact all purchasers, meaning many remain in childrens’ hands.

The Toy Association on Nov. 7 released results of a survey that found parents failed to follow toy maker’s labeling and recommendations. The association said that 41% of parents don’t always check a toy’s age label before buying it, and 94% “still purchased a toy even when the age label indicated their child was too young to play with it.”

Besides the claws, sword, and projector, the WATCH list also inclues the Nerf Vortex VTX Praxis Blaster, which shoots up to 10 tiny plastic and foam discs in rapid succession (“Caution: Do not aim at eyes or face”); the Stomp Rocket Ultra Rocket, marketed to ages 6 and up, which can launch a foam rocket up to 200 feet in the air (“Warning: To prevent serious eye or face injuries:…Do not aim at your eyes or face”); and Cutting Fruit, for 2 and up, which comes with a plastic knife that WATCH claims could cause puncture wounds, and which features no warnings about the knife.

The top 10 list is meant to focus media attention before Black Friday and the bulk of holiday shopping on risks, but it’s not intended to be definitive, the group said. Nor does WATCH test these products or nominate them as worst because of injuries that have already occurred.

Rather, the group’s president and its primary director look to CPSC reports on recalls, injuries, and deaths for guidance, as well as their extensive careers as product-liability litigators and authors on the specialized field of safety for kids’ products.

About the Author
By Glenn Fleishman
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Retail

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Retail

‘We all failed’: Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner on Hollywood, video games and the big question of IP
Arts & EntertainmentDisney
‘We all failed’: Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner on Hollywood, video games and the big question of IP
By Joshua HongJuly 21, 2026
17 minutes ago
A Jersey Mike's logo is displayed outside one of their stores in San Diego, California.
InvestingIPOs
Jersey Mike’s IPO valuation could reach eight times Sweetgreen’s market cap
By Sheryl EstradaJuly 21, 2026
5 hours ago
LaLiga president says tech is already making the fan experience better, and it could solve football’s money problem too
AISports
LaLiga president says tech is already making the fan experience better, and it could solve football’s money problem too
By Catherina GioinoJuly 20, 2026
15 hours ago
A hand types on a computer with a screen displaying the AliExpress logo from Google Images.
RetailRetail
‘It is a failure by AliExpress’: European Commission fines the Chinese marketplace $629 million for not blocking counterfeit goods
By The Associated Press and Mike CorderJuly 20, 2026
16 hours ago
FDA walks back positive lab test while lettuce recall continues
HealthFood and drink
FDA walks back positive lab test while lettuce recall continues
By Bloomberg, Kristina Peterson, Jessica Nix and Daniela SirtoriJuly 20, 2026
21 hours ago
An aerial view of a person eating Taco Bell
RetailRecalls
It’s not just Taco Bell lettuce and possible glass in Pillsbury rolls: Food and drink recall events reached a 6-year year-over-year high
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 20, 2026
1 day ago

Most Popular

Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock
Success
Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 20, 2026
18 hours ago
‘I want to die broke’: Billionaire philanthropist Denny Sanford dies after giving away $4 billion
Success
‘I want to die broke’: Billionaire philanthropist Denny Sanford dies after giving away $4 billion
By Sydney LakeJuly 20, 2026
22 hours ago
'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic
AI
'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic
By Jason MaJuly 18, 2026
3 days ago
Current price of silver as of Monday, July 20, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Monday, July 20, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 20, 2026
1 day ago
Warren Buffett says his $147 billion investing career was an accident: ‘I may be one of the 10 luckiest in the world’
Future of Work
Warren Buffett says his $147 billion investing career was an accident: ‘I may be one of the 10 luckiest in the world’
By Sarah GlodekJuly 20, 2026
1 day ago
It’s not just Taco Bell lettuce and possible glass in Pillsbury rolls: Food and drink recall events reached a 6-year year-over-year high
Retail
It’s not just Taco Bell lettuce and possible glass in Pillsbury rolls: Food and drink recall events reached a 6-year year-over-year high
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 20, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.