Come clean on toxic nappies, parents urge

PARENTS are suing the French government in an attempt to force it to name brands of babies’ nappies that contain dangerous chemicals.

Anses, France’s national health agency, said in January that it had found traces of potentially toxic chemicals in disposable babies’ nappies that exceeded safety limits, but the brands concerned have never been named.

Parents and the Child Health Association campaign group filed a joint lawsuit yesterday before France’s highest court, the council of state.

They said they had written to the health ministry two months ago, asking for the names of the brands concerned, but never received a response.

Quentin Guillemain, a parent involved in the action, said: “We’re also asking for the withdrawal of dangerous nappies and better information for parents. This is a health emergency.”

Tests detected the presence of substances such as hydrocarbons, dioxins and perfumes at levels potentially dangerous to health. Glyphosate, a weedkiller, was also found, but in smaller quantities. Corinne Lepage, a lawyer acting for the parents and a former environment minister, said: “Parents aren’t sure of the products they are buying. This is not normal.”

Loïc Tanguy, of the consumer protection department, said the authorities were reluctant to name brands because the health agency had not analysed all of them and the tests, which were carried out two years ago, may no longer be valid.