Tuesday, August 21, 2007

If Chinese Food, Paint, Toothpaste or Tires Don't Kill Ya-- Maybe Their Clothes Will

Imagine your toddler brushing his teeth and going to bed with his favorite toy. If you were a discount shopper (and most of us are), then you've now got more to worry about than lethal toothpaste or lead-based toy paints. If you haven't heard, your kid's pajamas could now kill him as well.

Reports are now coming in from New Zealand, who says it would investigate allegations that imported children’s clothes contained dangerous levels of formaldehyde.

The government ordered the probe after scientists hired by a consumer watchdog programme discovered formaldehyde in Chinese clothes at levels of up to 900 times regarded as safe. Manufacturers sometimes apply formaldehyde to clothes to prevent mildew. It can cause skin rashes, irritation to the eyes and throat and allergic reactions.

The Warehouse, a New Zealand retailer, issued a recall at the weekend for children’s pajamas made in China after two children were burned when their flannelette nightclothes caught fire.

Li Changjiang, head of China’s safety watchdog, claimed the product safety scares were “a new trend of trade protectionism”, and accused some governments of “demonising China’s products”. Peter Mandelson, EU trade commissioner, characterized that charge as bunk. “The allegation that European companies’ action against toxic Chinese goods is politically motivated and shows bias against China is totally false,” said Mandelson.

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