DUBIOUS CHILDREN’S PLAY DOUGH

Parents are advised to practise caution when letting children play with modelling clay toys or play dough as they may contain unwanted ingredients that pose health risks.

In the Philippines, an alert has been raised by the toxics watchdog group BAN Toxics, on one such product sold, 8D Super Light Modeling Clay Toy, which flouted labelling requirements and may not have undergone and passed health and safety standards in the country.

“Potential hazards may come from ingredients that are not allowed to be part of a toy and childcare article product. The use of substandard and possibly adulterated toy and childcare article products may result in health risks including, but not limited to, endocrine disruption and reproductive or development effects; or may result in injury, choking or suffocation due to its small or broken parts,” the group says in a recent news alert.

Philippines law requires special labelling of toys and games to protect children against potential hazards to their health and safety. But unregistered products still penetrate the market.