GoodGuide Clarifies our Toy Testing Methodology
We have been overwhelmed by the media response to our testing of toys this year, and in particular to the results of our tests of the Zhu Zhu Pet Mr. Squiggles Toy Hamster.
We would like to clarify our testing methodology and results since there has been some confusion about our research.
As we explained in our original press release, we tested the Zhu Zhu pet using a NITON XL3t series X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer.
XRF technology is a method for determining levels of elements found on the surface of a toy. This is a non-destructive testing method that measures the “total” contaminants present on the surface of the toy.
We did not test these toys using the new government standard for toy companies to determine the “soluble” level of contaminants in a toy.
The federal standard for antimony is 60 parts per million soluble. We found antimony between 93-106 parts per million total on the surface of the toy.
While GoodGuide considers the presence of any antimony on the surface of a toy to be a concern, we want to clarify that we used a testing methodology to evaluate the toys that is different from the testing methodology incorporated into the federal standards.
Here is our official statement on this issue.
