Chinese products viewed negatively

Three-quarters of U.S. shoppers plan to shun toys made in China this holiday season, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll.

Of almost 1,000 people polled, 75.8% said they would not buy Chinese-made toys. The results come in the wake of several high-profile recalls this year of toys made in China that contained lead or small magnets.

“There is no question that there is an anti-Chinese product sentiment today that really did not exist a year ago,” said John Zogby, chief executive of Zogby International, which conducted the poll for Reuters.

But the sentiment may not reflect actual buying behavior, he said.

“Do they flip the toy around and do they look on the side of the box to see if it’s made in China?” Zogby asked, adding that significantly lower prices for a toy made in China could also affect consumers’ decisions.