Mothers Concerned About Safety of Softeners in Plastic Toys, According to Survey

Source

Morflex, Inc.

Forums

Related Articles

Although phthalates have been used as plasticizers to soften plastic toys for many years, questions are now being raised about whether their use is appropriate in toys for very young children. Of the 350 mothers of children age three and younger surveyed, 88 percent said they have concerns about phthalates in toys, according to the nationally projectable survey. There are an estimated 12.7 million female heads of household with children age three and younger in the U.S., which translates to more than 11 million mothers who share these concerns.

Nine out of 10 of the mothers preferred giving their children toys made with softeners derived from organic, renewable resources. Citrate ester softeners, for example, contain citric acid, which is used as a flavoring agent in beverages and foods. Eight out of 10 of these mothers would be willing to pay more for toys made with softeners of this type, according to the survey. "Because of the recent media focus on phthalates in toys, Morflex felt it was important to know what our ultimate customers, mothers of young children, think about the issue," said David Gleeson, president of Morflex, a major global producer of citrate esters.

The debate on the use of phthalates has been expanding in the United States and in Europe. As part of its 1999 toy safety recommendations, the U.S.-based Public Interest Research Group urged parents not to buy toys containing phthalates. On Dec. 1, 1999, the European Union (EU) Commission approved an emergency EU-wide ban on phthalates in toys designed to be put in children's mouths. The ban is in effect in 15 countries.

Three out of four mothers surveyed (76.6 percent) stated that information about the recent ban would affect the way they select children's toys in the future. Other survey findings include:

• Most of the mothers surveyed would like to see special labeling for children's plastic toys denoting which plasticizers they contain.

• About half of the respondents said they would "definitely" request that retailers carry children's plastic toys with plasticizers derived from organic, renewable resources, such as citrate esters.

• A majority of respondents favored fast food chains that offer plastic toys made with these softeners.

An increasing number of toy manufacturers are switching to plasticizers made with citrate esters, which have a long history of safe use and widespread regulatory acceptance. Citrate esters are approved for use in such diverse applications as pharmaceutical tablet coatings, medical tubing and devices, and products that have direct contact with food such as vinyl film wraps. They are also used in cosmetic formulations, including shampoos, fragrances, deodorants and detergents.

Morflex, Inc., of Greensboro, N.C., produces the Citroflex(R) line of citrates. Morflex is a wholly owned subsidiary of Reilly Industries Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., a worldwide manufacturer of specialty chemicals.

Jan. 11, 2000