Customs puts bite on teethers

Several teether brands on the market have been flagged as dangerous by consumer watchdogs, with certain brands posing a suffocation risk to babies.

Edison Mama's Kamikami Baby Banana teether and two other product models were seized by Customs and Excise Department officers, following a Consumer Council report.

Released yesterday, the report stated that of 20 teethers tested, two - Ange's Giraffe and Edison Mama's Kamikami Baby Banana - had unsatisfactory bite durability and did not follow the US code of federal regulations.

Samples were tested using a simulator of a baby's teeth, with the two products seeing parts break off and unable to withstand the simulated bite of a baby aged 18 months or younger.

Part of the Eddison Mama teether was deemed too small and could become stuck in a baby's throat, failing to meet the European toy safety standards.

The department warned parents to stop giving their babies this teether, while Ange's agent said its product manual warned parents against giving its product to babies with teeth.

The manufacturer of Edison Mama said it will improve the design of its molds to meet European toy safety standards.

The watchdog's test also revealed that the total migration of N-nitrosatable substances, which can convert to cancer-causing N-nitrosamines in the stomach, exceeded the prescribed maximum limit eight times in one Nuvita model.

The test also reviewed the hygienic safety level of liquids in seven teether products. Among those, the detected total aerobic microbial count in Clippasafe was 30,000 colony-forming units per milliliter, exceeding the prescribed limit of NB-Toys Recommendations under the European Toy Safety Directive by 339 times. The model was found to contain Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Manufacturers of Nuvita and Clippasafe's agent said they have recalled their products, with Nuvita replacing its products with a new batch.

Due to a baby' immature immune systems, contact with any liquid with large quantities of microorganisms and pathogens could cause a bacterial infection, inducing gastroenteritis or fever. The council said that the liquids are generally sealed inside the teether, but leakage was possible due to the aging of outer materials or product rupture.

"If they are put into boiling water, steamers or microwave ovens for sterilizationdamage, rupture or deformation may result, causing leakage of filled liquid," said Nora Tam Fung-yee, chairwoman of research and testing at the Consumer Council.

Tam advised parents to read product manuals to understand the safety precautions and sterilize products according to instructions.

Customs officers had earlier conducted a territory-wide spot check operation and seized 1,095 teethers of three models in contravention of the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance from four chain stores and a wholesaler.

angel.kwan@singtaonewscorp.com