Is the giraffe Sophie carcinogenic?

Giraffe Sophie: manufacturer defends itself against representations of Ökotest.

11/17/2011

The popular baby toy „Sophie la Girafe“ is in a test of the consumer magazine „Eco test“ with the grade „insufficient“ been evaluated. In a review, Ökotest had stated that in the laboratory „significant quantities of nitrosatable substances from the gum“ solved. In the body, so the consumer magazine, could itself „form carcinogenic nitrosamines“. These substances could be produced by processing products with rubber. According to the testers, this could already be avoided during the technical processing. Another „cancerous compound is naphthalene“. In the rubber of the toy giraffe Öko-Test had found increased values ​​of this substance. The squeaky volume of the giraffe Sophie was „according to standard in order“, if it is not held to the ear.

The manufacturer Vulli denies the information from Ökotest. The actual article of the magazine Ökotest was already deleted in the on-line expenditure, because the French producer criticized the representations as untenable assertions by interim injunction. The district court of Berlin had confirmed the plaintiff's view that Ökotest can not claim that the product is „not marketable“. For this reason, Ökotest now presented a shortened presentation of the article on the Internet. In a message, the company defends itself „Vulli“ against the claim, „Sophie“ be full of toxins. Rather, it is a natural product that is safe and without risks.

According to Vulli, the French magazine UFC-Que Choisir had recently tested the giraffe Sophie. The consumer magazine has a similar status in France as Ökotest in Germany. The results would already be available to the company. „In particular, naphthalene was not found in the tests performed there, as well as in the tests commissioned by Vulli.“ as it says in the consumer message of the company. Furthermore, Vulli complains that Ökotest does not name the commissioned test institutes and that the test reports are not available. Therefore one doubts the „the correctness of the results of the tests carried out by Ökotest“. Rather, the manufacturer emphasized that the baby product meets the strict standards of many countries. For example, the standards of the USA, the Canadas and also the norms of the EU, which also apply to Germany. Due to the situation, there is no recall.

The „Sophie la Girafe“ is produced since 1961 and enjoys a high popularity on the French and for some years on the German market. The squeaky giraffe likes to give birth to parents and has a particularly good reputation among many people. Because in the advertising of producers it says that Sophie is made of natural rubber, painted only with food coloring and has the same characteristics of a baby pacifier. (Sb)