Lovevery boilerplate response to my findings of Titanium in their paints (I will respond to this shortly.)
January 31, 2023 – Tuesday
The following response from Lovevery (text and image below) has been shared with me by at least 10 Lead Safe Mama readers this week after readers have made inquiries to Lovevery upon seeing my recent instagram post with the Titanium (Ti) reading (of 10,000 ppm) for the small blue painted toy piece pictured above.
Here’s the Instagram post:
View this post on Instagram
The additional readings for this toy component (30-second reading) include the following levels of metals found:
- Lead (Pb): non-detect
- Cadmium (Cd): non-detect
- Arsenic (As): non-detect
- Antimony (Sb): non-detect
- Mercury (Hg): non-detect
- Barium (Ba): non-detect
- Chromium (Cr): non-detect
- Copper (Cu): 23 +/- 13 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 14 +/- 8 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 10,000 +/- 500 ppm
What’s the problem with Titanium in paint?
While my Instagram post (above) simply shared a picture of the toy along with the level of Titanium found using XRF technology – the context for mentioning this (noting the level of Titanium found in painted wooden toys intended for use by children and infants who are likely to put these toys in their mouth) is a concern based in the science behind the recent European regulation which made Titanium Dioxide illegal as a food additive (a regulatory standard which has no minimum allowable / acceptable low threshold for Titanium Dioxide in food products or other products – like pills/ medications – that may be ingested.)
My overview article about the concern for Titanium Dioxide based paint on toys intended for use by children who put things in their mouths can be found on this link. (I will post a point by point response to the Lovevery response – shown below – shortly.)
Response sent by Lovevery
“Thank you for reaching out. We believe you are concerned as a result of a recent social media post making claims about titanium dioxide in Lovevery’s painted wooden toys.
Making safe toys is our top priority. Through certified third party labs, we regularly test our paints for hundreds of identified potentially harmful substances to be sure that our products are in compliance with the strictest safety standards, including REACH, CHCC, and SVHC, as well as heavy element and phthalate regulations. We also have regular risk assessments performed on surface coatings, inks, and paints by board-certified third party toxicologists. Simply put, we are working hard to ensure our products are safe for your baby.
In reference to your original concern about titanium dioxide, regulators for the European Union, the UK, Canada, US, Australia, and New Zealand do not identify titanium dioxide as a hazard in mouthable painted surfaces for baby and children’s toys. Notably, the substance is a common ingredient in sunscreen, medications, makeup, toothpaste, lipstick, and lip gloss.
Thank you again for reaching out for more information. We are always happy to answer any questions you may have about the standards we uphold when testing our products.”
Below is a screenshot of this response as sent to a Lead Safe Mama reader and then shared with me.
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When you respond to this, I am curious what you think of titanium dioxide in sunscreen and other cosmetic products. I have been using physical barrier type sunscreens thinking they are better than the chemical ones, but now I’m wondering. Curious what you think, although I know that is not the subject of this post.
Is Titanium a concern for people who have had plates and screws put in their body to fix broken bones?
Hi Anne,
I don’t have the same concern for medically necessary Titanium implants. The Titanium Dioxide in paints is nano-particulate bioavailable dust (especially when chewed on) and is different than Titanium in medical implants. There are some studies that indicate issues with Titanium implants in some people, but I think it is a risk / benefit scenario. The benefit of medically necessary Titanium implants is so much greater than the risk.
With paint on baby toys there is no reason to use Titanium-based paint (or any paint for that matter) and it should not be marketed and sold as non-toxic.
I had steel implants in my leg (something like 13 bolts and a plate after I broke my leg) and could not stand the metal in my body (had it all removed) – but not everyone has a reaction to metal implants in their body and I think that titanium in implants is considered (for most people) to be a fairly bio-compatible option.
T
Yes its a concern. Watch The Bleeding Edge medical documentary available on Netflix or maybe youtube or bitchute.
Have you tested any of Grimm’s colorful toys? So far I am only buying unpainted wood toys from small family run companies.
Would you mind sharing the names of some companies where you have found unpainted wood toys where the company is not mysterious?
I know this is a little late, but Smiling Tree Toys is a family owned company in the US. All of their wooden toys are unpainted but most are treated with beeswax/linseed oil coating I believe.
Well this is such a shame and they better be careful and rethink their response. Their target audience pays their outrageous prices bc it was worth it to have non-toxic toys in a package so we didn’t have to research a million individual toys. I have been recommending them to everyone, but will now be posting this everywhere and telling others to cancel their subscriptions!! THIS IS NOT OK! If they decided to rethink their response and change their paint I would still be hesitant, but I would at least consider continuing my subscriptions. WOW.
Makes me wonder about their other toys. Have you tested those or just these?
Thanks so much Tamara! You are a watch dog for the voiceless (our children) and we’d never know these things otherwise!!
I love how they’re literally telling you that it isn’t toxic but you’re all still “but titanium!” even though it is safe, you arent a chemical engineer, you don’t know what you’re talking about
What about titanium in cookware? Saladmaster cookware is marketing itself as using medical grade surgical steel in their stainless steel cookware, etc. I searched this brand on your website, but nothing came up.
I’d like to know what Tamara thinks of titanium cookware as well.
I know Titanium Dioxide, in sunscreen or soap, for instance, is bad, and I would never use it. Especially a nano version. But I assumed titanium was an entirely different compound. I have been considering make this Snowpeak Titanium Bowl my everyday dish (and only dish, since the ones we have currently are Mikasa 🙁 ). Would you recommend steering away from titanium dishware then? Have you by chance tested any titanium dishware?
https://www.rei.com/product/720286/snow-peak-titanium-bowl?color=NONE
Titanium in metal form is different than the powdered white Titanium Dioxide used in paints and coatings. Here’s the Titanium Dioxide overview article:
https://tamararubin.com/2022/07/a-concern-for-titanium-dioxide-in-paint-on-toys-modern-painted-wooden-toys-may-be-unsafe-for-infants-toddlers-even-if-they-meet-current-safety-guidelines/
Tamara