Chinese state media recently reported that multiple diaper brands were found to contain the reproductive toxic substance formamide, prompting intervention from market regulatory authorities. However, the Hygiene Products Professional Committee of the China Paper-Making Society subsequently issued a statement, pointing out that the report did not disclose test values, institutions, standards, or methods, and did not rule out other sources of intake.
Relevant centers in Shandong and the brands involved have also issued clarifications, stating that the report does not match the actual situation.
Economic Information Daily, under Xinhua News Agency, exposed the matter the day before yesterday, stating that several well-known diaper brands such as Huggies, Bibababies, and Babycare were found by professional institutions to contain the reproductive toxicant formamide, which could harm infants’ reproductive systems, liver, and kidneys. The report also claimed that, after a reporter wore an infant diaper overnight, the concentration of formamide in their blood nearly doubled. Following the publication of the report, the local market regulatory department for the brands announced that they had launched an investigation.
In response to this report, the Hygiene Products Professional Committee of the China Paper-Making Society issued a statement on the 19th, noting clear flaws in key areas such as the basis for testing, data disclosure, and causality analysis.
The committee’s statement pointed out that the report’s testing information was incomplete, lacking a scientific basis for risk determination. The report stated that several infant diapers tested positive for formamide, but did not disclose specific values, testing institutions, standards, equipment, or methods—core information needed for credibility. Thus, the relevant conclusions lack credibility and a basis for acceptance.
The committee also stated that the causal link between the presence of formamide in biological samples and the diapers remains inadequate. The report did not verify whether the infants tested had used the related brand products for a long time, nor did it rule out other possible sources of intake such as food, environment, or contact with other items. Therefore, it cannot be determined that the diapers are the sole source.
The brands involved have also issued statements. Babycare said that all diaper products currently sold by the company strictly comply with existing national standards; Huggies issued a statement saying that Huggies brand diapers did not test positive for 'formamide', and all indicators meet the relevant Chinese national standards for baby diapers; Bibababies flagship store customer service released an official statement that all of their infant diapers strictly adhere to the relevant national production standards for mother-and-baby products. The above-mentioned companies also said that they have commissioned multiple third-party authoritative testing agencies to carry out independent sampling and testing of their products.