posted January 28, 2008 11:28 AM         

REMEMBER THE PAINT ON KIDS TOYS ?

This is very true I heard it in news from one of our local radios here that our govt has to be extra careful on these cheap imports from China especially clothes because the Chinese are using some strong but cheap chemical in their manufactures. Cheap is expensive and at the same time fatal.

Chinese Thongs sandals sold at Walmart!!! DO NOT BUY ( Or at any other store either)

posted January 28, 2008 12:24 PM         

Snopes:

quote:

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The definitive Internet reference source for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumors, and misinformation.

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Again, even they say allergy or reaction to something.
Some things are treated with insecticides before shipment.
WASH any clothes from anywhere before wearing!
It is not the big bad Chinese cheapies like the lead in toys. Folks forget, American toys had it too....and our paints.

And some of that was people giving kids "toys" clearly labeled. "for decoration/display only."
Do not give a kid a toy he can chew on if he is still too young to know better...no matter who makes it. And what kind of fool gives a chewer age kid a painted toy anyhow?

Shop wisely and think!

Additionally, having worked in the rubber and plastics industry I do know a few things.

Extruded and molded items need a mold release
sprayed in/on the molds, presses. extruders, slitters, etcetera.
And certain solvents are used in lieu of detergents to clean the processing chemicals off the product.
These can be silicon based, petroleum based, perchloroethylene based and DMSO etcetera.
Same for clothing dye fixatives.
Folks can be allergic or sensitive to any of these.

posted January 28, 2008 01:18 PM         

Oil based products will "eat" the rubber and release all kinds of toxins normal to such.

posted January 28, 2008 06:00 PM         

Lexx, if you have more information on this which states that it is due to latex which causes the problem with these cheap flip-flops please share that with us.

I was given the impression from this that it is due to the dyes used in the sandals. Dyes do run when the sandals get wet or from sweat. When they run they enter the skin.

posted January 28, 2008 07:05 PM         

Although Fox News downplayed it by stating it only effected a few of the many who bought the shoes, I personally would not believe anything that corporate, Bush administration butt kissers at Fox News say about that or anything else.

Commentary:

This emailed message includes several photographs depicting a woman's feet with a severe skin reaction apparently caused by a pair of rubber flip flops (usually called "thongs" in Australia and "jandals" in New Zealand). The message claims that chemicals used in the manufacture of the flip flops caused the rash. According to the message, the flip flops were made in China and sold cheaply in Wal-Mart stores in the US.

The case described in the message is true and the photographs are genuine. The afflicted feet shown in the images belong to Kerry Stiles of Marion County, Florida. Stiles has created a website that features information and a series of photographs depicting the results of apparent chemical burns caused by a pair of flip flops she purchased for $2.44 at the Marion County Wal-Mart. She bought the flip flops for a photo shoot and then wore them for around an hour. But she later developed the painful and debilitating skin reaction shown in the photographs. The strap-shaped appearance of the rash strongly suggests that it was indeed caused by the flip flops.

On her website, Styles maintains that Wal-Mart was very unhelpful when she tried to alert them about a possible problem with their product and even suggested that she call the manufactures in China herself.

Regardless of its initial reaction, Wal-Mart apparently decided to take the matter seriously since it recalled Chinese made flip flops from its stores in September 2007. Kerry Styles is not the only person who has suffered reactions to the flip flops. Further cases were reported to Wal-Mart and other people who have had similar adverse reactions have contacted Styles via her website.

Apparently, however, not all wearers of the flip flops are similarly affected. According to a FOX News article on the issue, although seven millions pairs of flip flops were sold, only a relatively small number of people reported a reaction. The article notes:
Dr. Nanette Silverberg, director of pediatric and adolescent dermatology at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, said that the burning sensation is most likely due to allergies to the rubber on the shoes or to the chemical components, like Thiuram and Dithiocarbamates, used to break down the rubber in the shoes.

"When you think about the large distribution, it's not likely that it's the chemical coating that's extremely toxic," Silverberg said. "It can be allergic contact dermatitis, which is an allergy to something the skin comes in contact with. There are a variety of agents that can do it in flip-flops."
Health concerns with Chinese made products are not unprecedented. Earlier in 2007, millions of toys made in China were recalled due to the use of lead based paint. And, in June, the FDA released a warning that toothpaste made in China may contain a dangerous chemical called DEG.

References:

posted January 28, 2008 07:13 PM         

I have a pair of $25 Levi jeans that were made in the U.S. which I have owned for 7 years or longer and they still do not have any holes in them.

On the other hand a pair of Kelvin Clines which cost me more ( the name is what you pay for not the quality ) and were made overseas fell apart after I wore them twice.

posted January 28, 2008 09:05 PM         

From the current favorites in rotation:

Corduroy Shirt - Hong Kong
Heavy Coat - China
Corduroy Pants - Jordan
Rayon Shirt - USA
Peachskin Blouse - Korea
Suede Jacket - China
Thick Knit Sweater - Hong Kong
Jeans - Jordan
Cotton Blouse - India
Lands End Mocs - China
Fleece Windbreaker - USA

posted January 28, 2008 09:34 PM         

Poison Oak/Ivy is contact dermatitis as well...

The general population need not be wary, but those with allergies that aggrivate the skin might ought to take notice.

posted January 28, 2008 09:37 PM         

Cotton shirts and light jackets
Egypt
Cambodia
Mauritius
Qatar
Afghanistan
Pakistan
Swaziland

Rayon shirts
India
China
Korea

Fleece jackets and pants
Egypt

Shoes
China

Silk or silk rayon blend shirts
China
Hong Kong

Sweaters
Egypt
China
Korea

My husband's clothes from same but add in:
Jeans from
Jordan
Mexico
USA

posted January 28, 2008 09:43 PM         

quote:

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It is called contact dermatitis, an allergy of sorts...

Poison Oak/Ivy is contact dermatitis as well...

The general population need not be wary, but those with allergies that aggrivate the skin might ought to take notice.

It is not in the manufacturer or the sandles themselves, but the individual who wears them

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posted January 29, 2008 12:46 AM         

THIS IS NOT AN ALLERGY!

Literally hundreds of people nation wide have been effected and shunned by Walmart not even allowed to fill out an incident report. Well these guys got smart realizing that it was a CHEMICAL BURN and decided to prove such. Each was tested for latex/silicone/and other sorts of allergy. This was well documented through both their primary care physicians, lawyers and telltale photos!

AGAIN, THIS IS NOT AN ALLERGY!!!

This was not a form of contact dermatitis...
None were allergic to latex, silicone/and the like at all!

These guys purchased these flip-flops at walmarts around the country and were astonished to discover that these had not already been pulled from the shelves with already more than eight months worth of documentation showing these to have been of a BAD BATCH sent from China. One Walmart even denied that the person filing a claim had even purchased them from thier store! An alert manager actually is in on this huge lawsuit going on now as she herself was asked to run interference when people complained to the point of handing them a phone number of the China Manufacturer!

This is sick and sad!

The original incident report was filed in order to save children from possible harm. There was never an intention to sue Walmart at all. The lady was mearly asttempting to alert Walmart to this dangerous product in hopes of saving a child such as her very own from experiencing the 10+ weeks of agony and embarrassment she herself experienced by having worn such product.
Click here to learn more...

Mirandee, Thank you so much for bringing this to the board. I for one, appreciate it. Really it matters not whether this product was made in China or America. The simple fact is it contained stuff that was dangerous and illegal to sell for human body contact.

Walmart should be ashamed of their behavior to hide this and continue to sell this as well as their obvious reluctance to accept any responsibility what so ever regarding it.

If this post were on the Astrology board we'd be pointing out the fact that Capricorn effects are clearly seen here in business: We are moving to a period of time that consumers will demand quality. Cheap products are no longer appreciated at the cost of poor assembly or service. Walmart will be forced to shape up or discover quickly a huge loss to their business!

Fox news reported that not all wearers of the flip flops are similarly affected. This was simply because not all of the flip-flops came from the same batch.

Acoording to the actual documentation:
ALL of the shoes from this bad batch caused reactions to ALL who wore or even handled them!

posted January 29, 2008 07:06 AM         

Another theory....
This happens at fast food places.
Have you ever gotten food or a shake that tasted funky? Like soapy or burned your tongue like acid?
I have and know why having worked in such places.
Powerful cleaners are often used on the grills and the shake machine must be cleaned out from time to time.
These chemicals can get into the food if someone does not clear them out before cooking etcetera again. I had to make a worker re-do his cleaning because he skipped the rinsing step.
Same for in the rubber and plastics industry. The first rubber or plastic run through after a chemical cleaning of a press or mold or injectors...
is supposed to be discarded!

Soooo.....
Did someone leave industrial solvents or cleaners on a press or mold?
Then run the rubber in without discarding the first run?
That could indeed cause such a problem as reported.

posted January 29, 2008 03:47 PM         

For that reason, nothing is done until it becomes public and then stores like Walmart and corporations do act ( as happened in this case ) but mainly for the same reason, profit. If people are afraid to buy their merchandise they lose sales. They don't act because they actually care that the product harms kids and adults. They only act for the sake of business and profit.

Walmart would not have taken the sandals off the shelves if they tested them and found them safe. If they tested them and found them safe there could be no lawsuit and they could sell the merchandise. Taking them off the shelves is an admission by Walmart that something was found wrong in testing the sandals. I think for that reason it's a further stretch to assume they did not test the sandals than it is to assume they did before taking them off the shelves. Since taking them off the shelves meant a loss of sales for Walmart and the company that supplied them the sandals.

I commend this woman for bringing it to the attention of the public. What is with this new mentality that wants to blame it on the whistleblowers?

Thank you, YFIS for posting the follow up on this story. I think people should be forewarned. Mainly my concern was for kids because my grand daughters go through tons of those cheap flip-flops in the spring and summer months. I personally like canvas sandals and leather ones. My feet get too dirty in flip-flops.

Most of the workers in China who make this merchandise don't get their paychecks half of the time. Even though their paychecks are very little to begin with. So yes, basically not only in China but in Mexico, India, the Philipines and other countries people are being horribly exploited by corporations and so are the consumers who buy the products.

Yet we consumers have little choice these days. Just about everything is made outside the U.S. So we better stand up and demand our money's worth and our safety in what we buy. If not for our own safety then the safety of our kids. There were kids who died or who suffer now from brain damage due to the toys with high levels of lead in the paint from China.

People like this lady and the others should squawk. And very loudly!!!