Disney: Get toxic chemicals out of Princess and Spiderman lunch boxes

Phthalates are toxic chemicals already banned from children's toys because we know they're dangerous to kids. But they aren't yet banned from all products intended for kids: It turns out phthalates can be found in many back-to-school products as well, including lunch boxes and backpacks! This year, an independent study found levels of phthalates in Disney-licensed lunch boxes that would be illegal if these products were toys. In fact, these lunch boxes had levels 20 times higher than the legal toy phthalates limit!

Kids and cartoons? Classic. Kids and chemicals? Not so much.

Join us and our organizational partners to tell Disney to do the right thing for kids and take toxic chemicals out of their lunch boxes!

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Right now, parents are making sure their kids have everything they need to be successful. But it turns out some school supplies might be releasing “toxic dust” -- chemicals known as phthalates – which are linked to serious health problems, including asthma, ADHD, and diabetes.

These chemicals are tightly regulated in toys -- but companies like Disney are exploiting loopholes in a federal law. Because lunchboxes aren’t technically “toys,” there is no regulation on toxic chemicals like phthalates -- and the levels of these chemicals could be dangerous.

A recent study from the Center for Health, Environment and Justice found that most children’s lunch boxes -- which technically aren’t “toys” -- contained up to 30 times the amount of toxic dust deemed safe by the federal government.

Disney’s lunch boxes were some of the worst offenders. Their lunchboxes are covered with beloved characters -- like iconic princesses and Spiderman, a character my boys love -- but could be shedding toxic chemicals that put my kids at risk.

What’s heartbreaking is that alternatives exist. Disney could choose tomorrow to make their products safer. And, while Congress works on long-term solutions like the Safe Chemicals Act, corporations like Disney have a responsibility to keep our kids safe now.

Disney, please be a leader for children's health and stop using dangerous phthalates in your products now.

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Subject: Disney: Get toxic chemicals out of lunch boxes! Your message to friends:

Hi: I just took action with MomsRising and asked Disney to take toxic chemicals out of kids' lunch boxes. Will you join me?

http://action.momsrising.org/sign/ToxicDisney/?source=taf

*More info in the email below.
Thanks!

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Phthalates are toxic chemicals already banned from children's toys because we know they're dangerous to kids. But they aren't yet banned from all products intended for kids: It turns out phthalates can be found in many back-to-school products as well, including lunch boxes and backpacks! [1], [2] This year, an independent study found levels of phthalates in Disney-licensed lunch boxes that would be illegal if these products were toys. [3] In fact, these lunch boxes had levels 20 times higher than the legal toy phthalates limit! [4]

Kids and cartoons? Classic. Kids and chemicals? Not so much.

Join us and our organizational partners to tell Disney to do the right thing for kids and take toxic chemicals out of their lunch boxes! http://action.momsrising.org/sign/ToxicDisney/?source=taf

What are phthalates?

Phthalates are a toxic chemical that's used to make vinyl plastics more flexible. [4] They're linked to asthma, ADHD, and other chronic health problems in children. [4] Younger kids are particularly at risk for phthalate exposure. [5]

When phthalates are contained in school supplies like lunch boxes, they can cling to dust, which can make these harmful chemicals more easily absorbed into our kid's bodies. [6] If phthalates don't belong in toys, then we know that they don't belong in any items targeted at children. And lunch boxes covered in pictures of favorite childhood cartoon characters -- lunch boxes that will get touched and held daily -- definitely should not contain this dangerous chemical.

How were phthalates found in Disney licensed lunch boxes?

The Center for Health, Environment & Justice’s (CHEJ) Green Schools Campaign and the Empire State Consumer Project conducted a study with an independent laboratory and found that a whopping 75% of the back-to-schools they tested contained levels of phthalates that would be in violation of the federal ban for toys. [7]

CHEJ tested both the Disney Princess lunch box and the Amazing Spiderman, both charters licensed by Disney, and found that both lunch boxes have over 25 times the legal limit for toys! [8]

Tell Disney: Your cartoons and chemicals don't mix! Take dangerous toxic chemicals like phthalates and vinyl out of kids' lunch boxes: http://action.momsrising.org/sign/ToxicDisney/?source=taf

Please share this action on Facebook and with a few friends. The more voices, the stronger our message.

Together we are a powerful voice for women and families!

--Claire, Sarah and the whole MomsRising.org team

P.S. Huge thank you to the Center for Health, Environment and Justice’s (CHEJ) Green Schools Campaign and the Empire State Consumer Project for all the work they do to keep our families safe. To explore their great Hidden Hazards report, click here.

[1] http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=5474936&page=1#.UFyuoqTybcY

[2] http://chej.org/wp-content/uploads/HiddenHazardsReportFINAL.pdf

[3] Ibid.

[4] http://saferchemicals.org/toxic-chemicals/phthalates.htm

[5] http://chej.org/2012/08/hiddenhazardsrelease/

[6] http://www.nrdc.org/living/chemicalindex/phthalates.asp

[7] http://chej.org/wp-content/uploads/HiddenHazardsReportFINAL.pdf

[8] Ibid.

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