Dangerous chemicals found in children’s pacifiers
In a recent collaborative testing campaign, consumer organisations from Czechia, Slovenia and Hungary have exposed significant safety issues in pacifiers, including the presence of harmful bisphenols. The findings underscore a critical need for stronger EU-wide chemical regulations and greater transparency in consumer product manufacturing.
Surprising Presence of Bisphenol A (BPA) in „BPA-Free” Products
The product test initiated by the Czech consumer organisation – dTest, collected nineteen pacifier samples* from stores in the Czechia, Slovenia, and Hungary, along with two purchased from the online marketplace Temu.
The laboratory tests, which simulated an effect of children’s saliva, revealed a troubling discovery: bisphenol A, officially classified as hormonal disruptor by REACH regulation, was found to be leaching from four pacifiers, including those marketed as „BPA-free.”
Out of these 4 samples leaching BPA, one was bought at Temu online market store and three were manufactured by big brands sold across the EU. This finding suggests a lack of transparency in the chemical content of materials used in production and raises serious questions about potentially misleading consumer claims.
Bisphenol analysis examined whether bisphenols are released from pacifiers into an artificial saliva solution. A pacifier sample, including both the soft teat and the hard plastic shield, was immersed in artificial saliva for 30 minutes at a temperature of 37°C. The extract was then analyzed using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection to determine the content of bisphenols BPA, BADGE, BPAF, BPAP, BPB, BPBP, BPC, BPE, BPF, BPG, BPMP, BPPH, BPS, BPTMC, and BPZ. The results of the migration tests are expressed as the amount of bisphenols released per kilogram of pacifier. For the detailed test results click here!
The most notable case was the Curaprox Baby Grow with Love Soother, which measured a high concentration of 19 µg/kg (micrograms per kilogram) of BPA in artificial saliva. Following notification by the Slovenian consumer organization ZPS, the manufacturer, Curaden, reacted professionally and immediately. The company conducted its own confirmatory tests and promptly initiated a recall of all affected pacifier batches.
„This is an example of a responsible producer taking immediate action,” said Hana Hoffmannová, Chief Editor of dTest, which initiated the tests. „However, the fact that a product labeled ‘BPA-free’ contained BPA highlights a systemic issue. Is it a misleading claim, or is there a lack of knowledge about the chemical composition of raw materials in the supply chain? This is why NGOs and consumer associations have been calling for increased transparency and full traceability of chemicals in consumer products. This should not be limited to only Substances of Very High Concern, but all chemicals as lack of data often prevents consumers to make a well-informed decision on which product to buy”, said Emese Gulyas, representative of the Association of Conscious Consumers (TVE) in Hungary and leading manager of the ToxFree Life for All project.
Call for Comprehensive Chemical Bans
These findings add to a growing body of evidence from the „ToxFree Life for All” project, which previously found bisphenols in underwear. This repeated pattern of chemical contamination points to a glaring gap in current EU legislation.
„Pacifiers are often one of the first items parents buy, and they do not expect to be exposing their children to hormone disrupting chemicals from day one,” Hana Hoffmannová, Chief Editor of dTest added.
„It is illogical that bisphenols are banned in baby bottles but not in pacifiers, which babies use more intensively and in some cases for long years. We are seeing a lack of stringent regulation, and it is failing consumers. For manufacturers and importers, the legal environment would become easier if bisphenols were banned in all consumer products, especially those intended for children,” said Karolina Brabcova of Arnika, a Czech based NGO following the EU chemicals legislation process.
Consumer organizations are pushing for a comprehensive, group-based ban on all bisphenols in all consumer products, following up on the German proposal toward the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to ban a group of bisphenols classified as endocrine disruptors of environmental concern. The current market relies on self-regulation in the case of bisphenols for example, which our test results prove is insufficient and places children at unnecessary risk.
The public’s demand for stronger protections is clear, as detailed on the ToxFree Products Now website.
The ToxFree Life for All project is calling on EU decision-makers to implement swift and comprehensive legislation to regulate the safety of children’s products and ensure effective market oversight. JOIN US AND SIGN OUR PETITION!
* The following pacifier samples (listed in random order) were analysed: Temu Blue Pacifier (size M), Bibs Colour Pacifier, Lovi Prime Dynamic Soother, Mam Night, Medela baby Original, Tommee Tippee Night Time Orthodontic, Canpol Babies Light Touch, Temu Purple Pacifier (size M), Chicco Physioforma, Bibs Boheme Pacifier, Nuk Signature, Babylove (dm) Air Nachtschnuller Silikon, Philips Avent Ultra Air Soother, Suavinex Premium Gold Edition, Nuk For Nature, Curaprox Baby Grow with Love Soother, Sophie La Girafe Sucette Caoutchouc Naturel, Babydream (Rossmann) Anatomical Orthodontic Soother, Grün Specht Bio-Schnuller.
This article was published with the financial support of the Life Programme (LIFE22-GIE-HU-ToxFree LIFE for All, 101114078) aiming at protecting the health of citizens from risks and impacts related to the exposure of harmful chemicals in everyday consumer products. It aims to support the transition towards a sustainable and toxic-free economy, society and environment by informing, empowering, and enabling consumers to choose products with less hazardous components, thus protecting themselves, the environment and signaling the necessity of change towards the market.
The project will also mobilize citizens in the support of policy processes that aim for the prohibition of harmful substances. The project is coordinated by the ACC (Tudatos Vásárlók Egyesülete, Hungary) in partnership with Arnika (Czechia), dTest (Czechia), VKI (Verein für Konsumenteninformation, Austria) and ZPS (Zveza Potrošnikov, Slovenia).
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. LIFE22-GIE-HU-ToxFree LIFE for All, 101114078. Co-funded by the Hungarian Ministry of Energy (Z1230232)