The agency said that chemical additives were found in all eight brands with content ratios between 5 percent and 22 percent. (image: Kobizmedia/Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Sept. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — The Korea Consumer Agency said on September 28 that it conducted a product test on eight baby pillow brands claiming “100-percent natural latex” or “natural latex” in their advertising and found four of them contained only 16 to 34 percent. Natural latex rubber is much more expensive than synthetic latex as it is superior in anti-bacterial properties and water-resistant qualities.
The state-run agency conducted the test jointly with Congressman Park Byung-seok (New Politics Alliance for Democracy) and discovered that the four brands including Happyland, SleepSpa, Nara Deco, and Redian Latex had the natural latex content much below the 50-percent level. In contrast, the other four brands such as TheZary, Lux & Fun, Maggiore, and TartineetChocolat had the content ratios between 92 and 95 percent, with no synthetic latex found in the products.
The agency said that chemical additives were found in all eight brands with content ratios between 5 percent and 22 percent. Additives are required to manufacture latex products, but low-quality additives may cause harmful effects and bad odor.
In a test to see if there are any cracks from repeated use, TartineetChocolat, Happyland, Maggiore, and TheZary showed cracks from long-term wear and tear. In a test on shrinkage from repeated use, the four brands including TartineetChocolat, Happyland, Maggiore, and Nara Deco exhibited shrinkage over and above 60 percent.
By Sean Chung (schung10@koreabizwire.com)
