Subtitle: Popular brand lookalike sandals exceeded phthalate limits by 359 times; free “squishy” toy (also called “Nie-Nie-Le”) contained toxic TVOCs
1.Key Findings at a Glance
Between May and July 2025, the Toxics-Free Corps consumer product safety testing campaign collected and analyzed 28 children’s products. The key findings are summarized below:
•Total products tested: 28 items
•Problematic products: 7 contained harmful substances far above the limit
•Compliant products: 21 items met relevant safety standards
•High-risk categories:
￮Children’s sandals: 5 pairs tested; 2 pairs exceeded phthalate limits (up to 359x), 3 pairs were compliant.
￮Protective corner/edge bumpers: 7 tested; 3 exceeded formamide limits (up to 8.8x), 4 were compliant.
*The following principles guided this round of testing:
1.Prioritize existing mandatory national standards (GB).
2.Where no mandatory GB standard exists, use recommended national (GB/T) or industry standards.
3.For product types without domestic standards, reference stricter international standards (e.g., EU EN standards).
4.All testing is conducted by independent CMA-accredited laboratories.
2. Blacklist: 7 contained harmful substances far above the limit
1. Ultraman toy (phthalates exceeded safety limit by 316x)
Ultraman Toy
Phthalates exceeded the limit by 316 times
Reference Standard:
GB 6675.1-2014 Toy Safety Standards Part 1: Basic Code (Mandatory National Standard)
Test Item:
Phthalates (limit requirement ≤ 0.1%)
Test Result:
31.734% (316 times over the limit)
2. Free “squishy” toy (also called “Nie-Nie-Le”) (TVOCs exceeded safety limit by 305x)
TVOC exceeded the limit by 305 times
Reference Standard:
GB/T 35456-2017 Stationery and Sport Products and Its Parts — Requirements for Total Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Emission (Recommended National Standard)
Test Item:
TVOC (limit requirement ≤ 0.6 mg/m³)
Test Result:
183.7 mg/m³ (305 times over the limit)
Note: Formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, xylene, and styrene were within limit.
Story: A parent received this toy as a free gift at a dental clinic. They immediately noticed the strong chemical odor and chose not to let their child play with it. After learning about our product testing campaign, the parent submitted it for analysis. The results confirmed toxic chemical levels hundreds of times above the safety limit. The parent reported the findings to the clinic, which acknowledged seeing related media coverage and has since stopped distributing the toy.
3. Two pairs of children’s sandals (up to 359x over limit)
Children’s Sandals
Highest exceedance: 359 times the limit
Sample 03
Phthalate content: 36.007%
Sample 04
Phthalate content: 0.186%
Reference Standard:
GB 30585-2024 Safety Technical Specifications for Infants’ and Children’s Footwear (Mandatory National Standard, currently in transition period)
Test Item:
Phthalates (limit requirement ≤ 0.1%)
Special Note:
The new standard GB 30585-2024 Safety Technical Specifications for Infants’ and Children’s Footwear has not yet been formally implemented. The old standard GB 30585-2014 (also a mandatory standard) is still in force. Both samples tested here exceeded the phthalate limit requirements under the current standard, so they are considered as non-compliant.
Story: In summer 2024, one parent bought a pair of popular brand lookalike children’s sandals through a group-buying channel for just a few dozen yuan (the authentic version retailed for about 200 yuan). After reading news reports about phthalate contamination in children’s sandals, she joined our testing program. Laboratory results showed the sandals exceeded phthalate limits by 359 times. She immediately reported the findings to the group-buy organizer, who refunded all 23 participating parents in full.
Later, the same parent purchased the authentic brand sandals and submitted them for testing. Results showed no phthalates detected (listed later as Sample #15).
4. Three protective bumpers/edge guards (up to 8.8x over limit)
Protective Corner/Edge Bumpers
Highest exceedance: 8.8 times the limit
Sample 05
Brand claimed by submitter: “Saftydad”
Formamide content: 1958.5 mg/kg
Sample 06
Brand claimed by submitter: “Beideli”
Formamide content: 414.3 mg/kg
Sample 07
Brand claimed by submitter: “andybear”
Formamide content: 1058.9 mg/kg
Reference Standard:
GB/T 39498-2020 Guideline for the Use and Control of Key Chemical Substances in Consumer Products (Recommended National Standard)
Test Item:
Formamide (limit requirement ≤ 200 mg/kg)
3. Whitelist: 21 Products That Passed Testing
1. 12 plastic toys
Sample 01 Nail polish toy
Sample 02 Plastic toy
Sample 03 Plastic toy
Sample 04 Plastic toy
Sample 05 Plastic toy
Sample 06 Snack package toy
Sample 07 Plastic toy
Sample 08 Plastic toy
Sample 09 Hair tie
Sample 10 Snack package toy
Sample 11 Whistle
Sample 12 Swim ring
Reference Standard:
GB 6675.1-2014 Toy Safety Standards Part 1: Basic Code (Mandatory National Standard)
Test Item:
Phthalates (limit requirement ≤ 0.1%)
Note:
All items tested non-detectable or trace levels only — overall low risk.
2. 3 pairs of children’s sandals
Children’s Sandals
Sample 13
Sample 14
Sample 15 (authentic brand pair mentioned in the parent’s story)
Reference Standard:
GB 30585-2024 Safety Technical Specifications for Infants’ and Children’s Footwear
(Mandatory National Standard, currently in transition period)
Test Item:
Phthalates (limit requirement ≤ 0.1%)
Note:
All samples were either non-detectable or trace only, indicating low risk.
3. 4 protective bumpers/edge guards
Protective Corner/Edge Bumpers
NBR Material
Sample 16 Brand unkwown
Formamide content: 187 mg/kg
Sample 17 Brand claimed by submitter: “baby care”
Formamide content: 190.5 mg/kg
Sample 18 Brand claimed by submitter: “Qibao”
Formamide content: 191 mg/kg
Reference Standard:
GB/T 39498-2020 Guideline for the Use and Control of Key Chemical Substances in Consumer Products (Recommended National Standard)
Test Item:
Formamide (limit requirement ≤ 200 mg/kg)
Note:
All within the standard, but NBR material products are close to the limit, so moderate use is recommended.
PVC Material
Sample 19
Reference Standard:
GB 6675.1-2014 Toy Safety Standards Part 1: Basic Code (Mandatory National Standard)
Test Item:
Phthalates (limit requirement ≤ 0.1%)
Test Result:
Not detected
4. 1 pack of ultra-light modeling clay
Ultra-Light Modeling Clay
Sample 20
Reference Standard:
EN 71-3:2019 European Safety of Toy Standard
Test Item:
Soluble boron content (limit ≤ 1200 mg/kg)
Test Result:
841 mg/kg
5. 1 metal toy car
Metal Toy Car
Sample 21
Reference Standard:
GB 6675.4-2014 Safety of Toys Part 4: Migration of Certain Elements
(Mandatory National Standard)
Test Item:
8 heavy metals (antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium)
Test Result:
Not detected / trace only
4.Hazardous Chemicals Detected and Their Risks
1. Phthalates
Use: Cheap plasticizer widely used in plastic products.
Risks: Endocrine disruptor. Linked to early puberty, asthma, allergies, reduced sperm quality, and reproductive health impacts.
TARGET ORGANS FOR PHTHALATES IN MALES AND FEMALES
BRAIN
May cause alterations in brain chemistry, autism
THYROID
May alter circulating T4 levels
BREAST
May cause premature thelarche
BREAST
May cause gynecomastia
PANCREAS
May affect β-cells, insulin secretion
UTERUS AND OVARIES
Early life exposure may affect the development of uterus and ovaries, may cause puberty precox
TESTIS
Effect on both Sertoli and Leydig cells
Prenatal exposure may cause hypospadias, cryptorchidism, disruption, reduced fertility and in late life testicular cancer
2. Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs)
Use: As a result of saving money, residuals from poor-quality materials, excessive additives, or flawed manufacturing.
Risks: Irritates eyes, nose, and throat; causes headaches and nausea; long-term exposure can damage the immune system, liver, kidneys, and central nervous system.
3. Formamide
Use: Often present as residuals from poor-quality materials, excessive additives, or flawed manufacturing processes aimed at cutting costs.
Risks: Can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat; cause headaches and nausea; and with long-term exposure, may damage the immune system, liver, kidneys, and central nervous system.
5.Safety Guide: How to Reduce Risks for Your Children
From the testing results, risky products often share the following traits:
❌ Poor quality materials (strong chemical odor, poor texture)
❌ Untraceable source (“three-no products”: no manufacturer name, no address, no trademark)
❌ Extremely low price
❌ Free gifts from vendors
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