ST. LOUIS: Cepia, the makers of the popular Zhu Zhu Pets, kicked its PR into high gear after consumer-protection Web site GoodGuides accused the company of having high levels of tin and antimony in its toy hamster products. The day after the report hit on December 4, Cepia hired Zeno Group, and issued a press release denying any safety issue with its inexpensive, hamster toys that were already proving to be a hit holiday toy.

The findings from GoodGuide were then ...