Ireland: popular children’s item recalled due to chemical risk

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) announced the recall on March 4 of Hoot Girls Printed Flip Flops, a popular children’s clothing item, as certain batches of the product present a “chemical risk.” The recall affects over 3000 products sold in Ireland. It is caused by an excessive concentration of phthalates in them. Phthalates are chemicals often used to make plastic more flexible during the manufacturing process. The CCPC has warned that the affected batches contain phthalates exceeding the maximum limit of 0.1% by mass of the plasticised material. This means that exposure to them can have serious health effects, especially on the endocrine and reproductive systems. The recalled Hoot batch number is 12034, while the type/number of the model is TOY5313/OB, and the barcode is 5056283853135. Anyone who has purchased items with these specifics must stop using them immediately and keep them away from children.
Hoot Girls Printed Flip Flops are sold online and in Euro Giant stores, although it is unclear if the recalled batches of the product were effectively sold in the discount chain. A CCPC spokesperson confirmed in a statement that the risk posed by the product is chemical due to the excessive presence of phthalates and that the recall affects approximately 3096 items in the Republic of Ireland. Customers should keep the product away from children and return it to the point of purchase for a full refund. If they know someone else who has purchased an affected item, they should ask them to stop using it and return it for a full refund.