A few years ago, a startling discovery was made about the popular baby toy Sophie the Giraffe after a New Jersey dentist noticed it had a bad smell. She cut into it and discovered that it was full of mold. When the pictures were posted online, other parents cut into their children’s Sophies and found that they also were full of mold.
If this mold had caused health issues for the children, could the manufacturer be held responsible? What is their responsibility to prevent this issue or to tell parents if they know it is an issue? Read on to get a legal perspective of these issues and then reach out to The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 if you have questions about product liability laws.
How big is the Sophie problem?
The Sophie Giraffe is a popular toy. It is used as a teething toy and costs around $25. It is marketed as all-natural and is made from Heavea trees. The shape of it lets kids get even to their very back teeth while chewing, which can help reduce teething pain. There are more than 50 million Sophie Giraffe toys out in the world. That is a lot of mold and a lot of potential liability for the manufacturer.
How is the mold getting onto the toys?
Experts have studied the toys and found that a tiny hole in the bottom of the toy, which is what allows them to be able to squeeze it, allows moisture in. As a result, mold grows in the giraffe. The company that makes the toy says that mold would not be an issue if parents followed the cleaning instructions that they have created and included with the toy. These instructions include washing the giraffe in hot soapy water. They also say that parents are able to disinfect the toy by soaking it in a solution of diluted bleach and then letting it dry.
No illnesses have been reported – yet
At this time, no parents have come forward with side effects caused by Sophie the Giraffe. That said, there is no question that mold can have serious health consequences. If a person is allergic to mold or has a compromised immune system, exposure to mold can even be deadly. We find it likely that as parents begin to learn about this issue they will be able to connect the dots from their child’s sickness after having chewed on a product potentially filled with mold.
Holding the manufacturer responsible
Does the fact that the manufacturer includes cleaning directions mean that a personal injury attorney has no options to help a client? It is one factor that would be relevant but would not necessarily mean that there are no options. If you or your child have been injured by a product then it is always worth it to get a legal opinion about your options. Doing so is easy: Just contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
