(DALLAS, TX) – A children’s toy being sold in the Minneapolis area has been discovered to have a component containing a hazardous substance that is prohibited for sale in the United States. Worse, it’s a component young children often put in their mouths.
The public can visit www.toxicballoons.com to review the toxicology reports and more information. Easy Einstein Balloons by Telebrands sold nationwide including at least one location in Roseville, Minnesota were discovered to have alarmingly high levels of phthalate, a substance illegal for use in children’s toys in concentrations over 0.1 percent. The sample analyzed from Roseville showed 19.1 percent of Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) – 191 times over the legal limit.
According to the United States National Institutes of Health, “studies suggest fetal and childhood exposure to some phthalates may perturb normal development, with several studies consistently reporting increased risk of allergic diseases.” DEHP has also been linked to cancer.
The United States Code, Title 15§ 2057 Banned Hazardous Products, makes it unlawful to sell, offer for sale, manufacture for sale, distribute in commerce, or import into the United States children’s toys containing phthalates.
The Easy Einstein Balloons component is especially concerning because it’s a squishy PVC retainer used to seal the neck of the water balloon – observed to be a tempting item for children to chew on.
Easy Einstein Balloons are also the subject of a patent infringement suit against Telebrands and several retailers. In spite of a federal court granting a preliminary injunction of Easy Einstein Balloons back in May, the product has continued to be sold at retailers nationwide.
The phthalate-laden retainer arose as a part of the telemarketing giant’s third attempt to market a copy of the patented product Bunch O Balloons, the viral sensation launched on Kickstarter in 2014. Bunch O Balloons meets all consumer product safety requirements, and utilizes a natural rubber ring to seal the balloon.
