TOYS ARE FLYING

off the shelves this holiday season, but it's not because shoppers are grabbing them up. Instead, a slew of widespread health and safety recalls are responsible for making some of this season's most popular toys scarce.

Just last week, the Consumer Product Safety Commission ordered the recall of 4.2 million sets of Aqua Dots craft sets because a chemical coating on the brightly-colored beads breaks down into the date-rape drug known as GHB when ingested. One of Toy Wishes magazine's "Hot Holiday Dozen," Aqua Dots has caused seizure-like spasms and shallow comas in seven U.S. children. Two days later, another recall urged parents to return some 175,000 Curious George plush toys to the manufacturer, Marvel Toys, because of lead content in the paint on the doll's face and hat.

And that's only the tip of the iceberg. All told, more than 20 million toys, most produced in China, have been pulled off shelves this year in more than 60 individual recalls that's double the number of alerts the CPSC issued last year. The recalls boil down to three leading causes: lead content, hazardous chemicals and detachable magnets, all of which can cause serious illness or injury. And no company seems to go unscathed. Among the affected companies are such big names as Mattel, Fisher Price and Disney.

"It's really shocking. It's unconscionable. The manufacturers have let down their guard and allowed unsafe products into the marketplace," says Donald Mays, senior director of product safety planning at Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports.

While manufacturers and retailers alike have announced efforts to redouble testing, it's ultimately up to consumers to shop safely and know what they're entitled to should any of the toys that they buy get recalled. Here's how to navigate the realm of recalls:

Recall-Proof Shopping

Not only have retailers been busily preparing for the holiday shopping rush over the past month, but they've also been expected to remove millions of Aqua Dots and tens of thousands of Curious George dolls and Fisher Price Go Diego Go Animal Rescue Boats, among other products. With such a staggering number of products to keep track of, some are bound to slip through the cracks and remain on store shelves.

The good news is that even if one of these recalled items makes it into your shopping cart, you won't be able to buy it, says Jim Silver, editor of Toy Wishes. Recall step No. 1 for major retailers is to flag the barcode in its computer system with a "do not sell" warning. "Even if you find it on the shelf, it's unlikely you'll be able to walk out of the store with it," says Silver. Online, big-name retailers mark recalled products as "unavailable" until the product page itself can be eliminated.

However, smaller web-based and bricks-and-mortar retailers may not be so well-prepared. Even eBay, which monitors listings for recalled products, may not catch every one, especially if the seller is vague about the particular model. So before you buy the latest toy, type the product name or manufacturer into the CPSC's recall and product safety database.

Recall-proof your shopping list even further by scrutinizing the age-appropriateness labels on toys. Look for things like detachable parts and magnets, as well as battery compartments unsecured by screws all common recall complaints. And consider honestly the likelihood that your child will use the toy as it was intended. Aqua Dots, for example, was marketed to children ages 4 and up. "It was totally foreseeable that a kid would put these beads in their mouth," says Mays.

Hassle-Free Recall Returns

On average, less than 20% of recalled items make it back to the manufacturer for proper disposal or repair, according to the CPSC. In a 2003 report on the subject, the commission theorized that many consumers remain unaware of recall notices, while others don't comply with instructed procedures.

"Unfortunately, dangerous products are recalled every week," says John Kupsch, technical director for the Good Housekeeping Institute. "It's likely that you have one." Don't just throw the product out yourself, he urges. Not only will you miss out on the reimbursement you're entitled to, but you may also put others at risk should, say, those lead-filled toys end up at the local dump or be fished out of the trash by a neighbor.

Instead, follow these steps if an item you own gets recalled:

Stay informed. The recalls that make the news tend to be both widespread and highly hazardous. To stay on top of the less-publicized recalls, subscribe to the CPSC's recall notification list, which sends out regular email alerts.

Know your rights. Each recall resolution is negotiated independently between the manufacturer and the CPSC. Reputable manufacturers cover all the costs, including shipping and will take back a toy even years after a recall is first announced, adds Silver. Some manufacturers offer refunds; others supply vouchers or replacement toys. Check the CPSC's database to find individual recall agreements.

Identify with care. Determining which, if any, of your kids' toys were recalled isn't always easy, especially with a seemingly endless number of toys associated with popular characters like Dora the Explorer or Elmo, says Mays. Check the manufacturer's web site for help. Mattel, for example, has a recall center with diagrams to help consumers locate toy serial numbers, as well as a database tool to determine if those numbers fall under the recall.

Work with the store instead of the manufacturer. "I would take a recalled toy back to the retailer and get a refund," says Kupsch. "Let them deal with the manufacturer." Toys 'R' Us, for example, has a policy of offering store credit for the full value of any recalled toy, even if it was purchased elsewhere.

Avoid replacements. If a manufacturer opts to replace recalled products rather than offer a refund, take a pass, cautions Mays. There is no guarantee that quality has improved in the next batch of products that immediately follows a recall. In June, RC2 Corp. recalled wooden Thomas & Friends trains for excessive lead content in the toys' paint. The company offered replacement engines, which were then recalled in September, also for lead content. Instead, try circumventing the process by asking the store where you bought the toy for a refund or credit.