Random tests of pet toys showed that 20 percent contained excessive levels of plasticizers, including one that surpassed legal limits by 227 times, posing a threat to pets’ reproductive system, the Consumers’ Foundation said.
Citing the Humane Society of the United States’ recommendation that dog owners should purchase stuffed toys that are labeled as safe for children under three years of age and that do not contain any dangerous fillings, the foundation said it randomly tested 25 pet toys sold in Taipei for their quality and labeling.
It found five items containing plasticizers that exceed legal limits — the total amount of phthalates and related compounds should not exceed 0.1 percent of an item’s weight — including an ice pillow sold at an online store whose plasticizer levels were 227 times the legal limit.
Exposure to phthalates can cause disruption of the endocrine system and a shift in children’s hormone balance, the foundation said.
Similar exposure can have a negative effect on an aimal’s reproductive system, it added.
The foundation said three items failed a physical quality test because they contained small objects that are easily detachable or breakable, and can be accidentally swallowed by pets or children, causing them to suffocate.
Foundation chairman Alan Lu (陸雲) said children often come into contact with pets, so the quality and safety of pet toys can also affect a child’s health.
Consumers should carefully examine pet toys before purchasing them, Lu said.
The foundation found that 22 items, or 88 percent, were mislabeled, including failure to print the materials, ingredients, warnings or instructions on their product labels.
It advised consumers to choose pet toys by carefully reading the product labels, checking if objects are firmly attached to the toys, avoiding toys that might trigger a dog’s instinct to rip them apart and possibly swallow the material, and avoiding letting babies or young children bite or swallow pet toys.
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