Bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic chemical linked to health issues including low sperm count, obesity, and cancer, has been detected in baby dummies manufactured by three major European brands, according to laboratory tests conducted by the Czech consumer organisation dTest.
The dummies in question were made by Philips (Netherlands), Curaprox (Switzerland), and Sophie la Girafe (France), and were all marketed as either “BPA-free” or “natural rubber”. Researchers tested 19 dummies purchased in the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Hungary, plus two from online marketplace Temu, by placing them in artificial saliva for 30 minutes at 37°C to simulate mouth conditions.
The highest BPA concentration, 19 micrograms per kilogram, was found in the Curaprox baby grow with love soother, exceeding the EU limit of 10 micrograms per kilogram for BPA migration from baby dummies. Sophie la Girafe’s “natural rubber” pacifier contained 3 micrograms/kg, while the Philips Avent ultra air soother and a Temu-sourced dummy had 2 micrograms/kg each.
Curaden, manufacturer of Curaprox, said the result was a surprise and confirmed it through its own tests, leading to a voluntary recall of affected batches. Sophie la Girafe’s parent company Vulli argued the detected level (0.003 mg/kg) was below its laboratory’s detection limit of 0.01 mg/kg and therefore insignificant. Philips stated its soothers are BPA-free throughout manufacturing and conducted further tests with DEKRA to confirm compliance.
Campaigners warn that children are particularly vulnerable to endocrine-disrupting chemicals like BPA, which can cause harm at very low concentrations. The findings raise concerns about the accuracy of “BPA-free” claims and the adequacy of regulatory limits.
