InfoCons warns parents about non-compliant school supplies, most of which have chemical risks.

Just a few days before the start of the school year, InfoCons issued a warning for parents regarding school supplies, mentioning that almost 70% of European alerts referred to products with chemical risk.

Parents can check the safety of supplies through the InfoCons app by scanning the barcode or searching for the product in the alerts section. Backpacks make up almost half of the alerted products, being flagged for the presence of phthalates and lead. Associated risks include chemical risks (68.6%), environmental risks (22.9%), and choking hazards (20%).

Identified hazardous substances include phthalates, cadmium, methanol, formaldehyde, and lead, which can affect children's health. Over 77% of the reported supplies come from China, highlighting the importance of checking the origin of products before purchase.