Last updated on August 20th, 2022 at 12:23 am
Dear Safe Mama,
I have teethers made out of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA)… are they safe? I thought vinyl was a bad plastic?
I’ve gotten this question and admittedly, I didn’t know how to answer it. I asked the Non-Toxic Super Hero: Alicia from The Soft Landing. She of course, had the answers we seek!
Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) is widely accepted as safe for use in teethers. EVA is a type of plastic that does not require a plasticizer and is bisphenol-a free, so it is considered to be non-toxic.
So what is this plasticizer stuff? PVC’s soft texture is imparted by “plasticizing” chemicals. DEHP, a member of the phthalate family of chemicals, is the most widely used plasticizer in teethers. The Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CEHJ) recommends EVA as a safer PVC-free plastic alternative. CEHJ describes the effects of phthalates in their article PVC: The Poison Plastic.
Short answer: Yes, it’s safe and BPA, phthalate, and PVC free. Thanks, Alicia!
