Good news! The following companies have sent in verification forms for several of their products.
Edushape, Mudpuppy, Lego Systems, Publications International, Little Tikes, Step 2, Kidsgive, Lisa LeLeu
We hope now that the new toy season in underway that more companies will submit forms! We are not independently verifiying with a lab, but we are encouraged that these companies have listed their lab and signed off on the form that their products are lead and phthalates free.
How do you define “lead free?” I have heard of several toy companies that claim a product as “lead free” only to find out there were still traces of lead in the paint? Granted the limit found is far below 600ppm and usually as low as 10ppm. But precisely what do you categorize as “lead free.”
Thank you
Dear Linda:
That has been the question of the year. Originally we suggested that the products should be 100% lead free. We were then told that it was an impossible request–since there can be trace amounts of lead. So then we started asking experts across the board–so what is a trace amount? I could not get a single toy company or lab to give us an answer. We were very frustrated. We finally went with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ definition of trace as no more than 40 ppm.
Once we did that– many companies started sending in the forms…but not all. We are still in discussions with several companies as to what the hold up is on their end.
Stay tuned!
My question to consumers– would you buy a product that has up to the current legal limit of lead (600 ppm surface coated/no limits on embedded)? Or are you looking for products that are way below that number? While we had a great deal of mail about this issue when it first broke last year, it seems that most consumers do not seem to worry about it much–or feel as if they really can’t do much to avoid it.
I think people feel they can’t do much to avoid it, but I am very concerned about it. I am not buying any plastic toys, or toys from companies who have prior lead recalls or who have not outright stated all their products are lead, PVC, BPA and phthalate free.
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Do you have a complete list somewhere of companies that are currently in compliance with being lead and phthalate free? And since you define “free of lead” as below 40ppm, do you have a list of companies that are TRULY lead free, like HABA and Plan Toys? Or is it just 1 list? Thanks
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