substance that has been linked to disorders of sexual development, obesity and cancer has been detected in pacifiers produced by three major European companies, according to a report by Guardian.
Pacifiers from Philips (Netherlands), Curaprox (Switzerland) and Sophie la Girafe (France) were found to contain billionphenol A (BPA)following laboratory tests carried out by the Czech consumer organization dTest. Companies advertised their products as “BPA-free” or “made from natural rubber.”
Philips announced that it had repeated the tests without detecting traces of BPA, while Sophie la Girafe claimed that the amount detected was “insignificant”. Nevertheless, the dTest results raised concern about the safety of baby care products.
BPA is a synthetic substance used in the production of plastics that mimics the action of the hormone estrogenaffecting the endocrine system of humans and animals. Scientific studies have linked BPA exposure to increased risk for cancer, endometriosis, heart disease, diabetes and reproductive disorders.
Chem Trust campaigner Chloe Topping warned that “the health effects of BPA are far-reaching”, pointing out that children are particularly vulnerable as “they are still developing and their organs are very sensitive”.
The research findings
The researchers bought 19 pacifiers from stores in the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Hungary, as well as two from the Temu platform, which were manufactured by a Chinese company. To simulate the conditions in an infant’s mouth, they placed each pacifier in an artificial saliva solution for 30 minutes at 37°C and analyzed the extract for the presence of biphenols.
Of the four pacifiers in which BPA was detected, the highest concentration was found in the Curaprox baby grow with love soother model, at 19 micrograms per kilogram (µg/kg), exceeding the limit of 10 µg/kg allowed by the European Union. Sophie la Girafe showed 3 µg/kg and Philips Avent ultra air 2 µg/kg.
The company Curaden, which makes the Curaprox products, said the result “surprised them”, but it was also confirmed by their own tests. It announced an immediate recall of the affected lots and refunds to consumers.
Vulli, producer of Sophie la Girafe, said it “no longer has pacifiers in its catalogue”, although pictures of them are still displayed on its website. The company emphasized that all its products are tested for BPA by accredited laboratories before being placed on the market.
For its part, Philips has maintained that the safety of its products is a “highest priority”, assuring that its pacifier ranges are “BPA-free throughout the production process”. Following the reports, the company carried out new tests with the independent company DEKRA, which confirmed that there is “no detectable BPA” in its products.
