Claims of chemical in diapers disproved

Chinese authorities said on Thursday that a nationwide investigation had found no formamide in baby diapers, refuting online claims that the industrial chemical had been detected in the products.

In late June, a media report said some consumers had reported recurrent diaper rash and skin ulceration in their babies after using certain brands of infant diapers. It also claimed that third-party tests had detected traces of formamide in several mainstream diaper products and that the chemical had been found in the blood and urine of some consumers.

Following the report, several diaper brands, including Babycare, Huggies and BIBAbebe, said internal and external tests had found no traces of the chemical in their products.

Disease control agencies conducted spot checks at all 168 baby diaper manufacturers operating in China, covering 368 batches of products from 180 brands. They also tested 32 batches of samples taken from key areas of diapers, including waistbands and fasteners.

No formamide was detected, according to the investigation team jointly established in late June by the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Health Commission and the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration.

The team also retested remaining diaper samples provided by a social media blogger surnamed Wang, who had claimed to have detected formamide in the products. Tests conducted by three official professional testing institutions found no formamide in any of the 58 batches of products from 15 brands, according to the investigation results.

Through exchanges with Wang, testing experts and industry insiders also identified multiple problems with his testing methods, undermining his conclusion that formamide had been detected.

On-site inspections of all 168 manufacturers found that the companies met hygiene standards, with no evidence that formamide had been added to products or was present in their production processes or raw materials, the investigation team said.

Authorities also investigated positive test results reported by two private testing institutions and an individual. They identified irregularities in the testing procedures, including the absence of blank and parallel sample tests and a failure to compare peak retention times with reference standards.

The investigation team said the results of those tests were insufficient to conclude that formamide had been detected.

Formamide is a colorless, water-soluble chemical used in industrial manufacturing and laboratory research. Exposure through inhalation, ingestion or skin absorption can harm human health, with particular concerns about its potential reproductive toxicity and effects on fetal development.

The investigation team stressed that testing baby diapers for formamide requires professional expertise and rigorous procedures, while research into the chemical's health hazards must be conducted prudently and objectively.

Health authorities in Shandong province have dealt with violations involving medical institutions and personnel identified during the investigation, the team said.

Authorities will continue to strengthen oversight of infant products, guide manufacturers in improving their quality management systems and hold them accountable for product safety.

wangxiaoyu@chinadaily.com.cn