The Truth about "Germ-Free" Toys & Sponges

In April 1997, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prohibited Hasbro from claiming that their Playskool antibacterial toys protect children from bacteria such as E.coli and Salmonella, as well as staph and strep infections. Antibacterial toys, treated with the pesticide Microban, give children unnecessary exposure to chemicals. Microban is registered by EPA to protect plastic from bacterial growth, but has not been approved or registered for public health purposes--i.e., protecting children. Hasbro agreed to recant their misleading claims through advertising, relabeling and repackaging, and by paying a penalty of $120,000.

Another company, 3M, has been claiming that their O-Cel-O sponges and scrubbers "kill germs that cause food-borne illnesses," even though these products have not been registered by EPA, nor proven to kill germs. In March of this year, EPA ordered 3M to withdraw all germ-killing claims from their products.

References

EPA Press Releases