Lily Weir and Frankie McLeod with the suspect ears. Lily admits she doesn’t look at the labels Source: News Limited
HORROR health warnings on $2 reindeer ears have shocked Queensland parents.
Labelling states that chemicals in the festive dress-ups could cause cancer, infertility and reproductive harm.
The reindeer ear and flashing nose sets are being snapped up at Brisbane discount stores for
children’s end of year concerts and parties.
The frightening warning says: “This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and/or birth defects or other reproductive harm.” The label also states the kiddie dress-ups are not suitable for people under 15.
And according to the Office of Fair Trading there are no laws being broken by businesses selling the made in China items.
As worried parents take to social media to vent about the frightening find, others admit they have just torn off the cardboard wrapping and not noticed the warning, trusting in the safety of Australian-bought goods
But the Office of Fair Trading urges parents not be alarmed by the label.
“A Californian proposition 65 warning label is similar to the “may contain trace of nuts” warning label found on many Australian food products.
“In California, the individual businesses are responsible for assessing the risk and deciding whether to carry the label and many businesses place the warning label on their products to ensure compliance with the law, even if there is little to no chance their product contains toxic substances. Australia’s approach to product safety differs in that it regulates the maximum allowable levels of toxic substances that can be present in products,” a spokesman from Office of Fair Trading said.
“If consumers have any concerns with a product carrying this label, they should contact the manufacturer for more information about what substances the product contains and in what quantity,” he said.
Parents however are not so laid-back about the labelling.
“The wording is very serious and no wonder parents have been surprised. I know that I don’t really check the back of products to see what is written. I feel confident my children wouldn’t put things like that in their mouths and they would probably only play with them for a matter of hours,” said Renee Tuuholoaki of Southport, mum to Milla 5 and Viktor 3.
Brisbane’s Lily Weir, 17, says she buys fun Christmas gear like the ears for parties.
“I normally wouldn’t dream of looking at the labels, I just trust that if a product is being sold in Australia it’s okay. But when I saw the wording on these reindeer ears I was blown away,” she said.