Consumption. School supplies: beware of harmful substances!

Watch out for your school supplies! An investigation by the French Fraud Control Agency (DGCCRF) has warned of the presence of substances harmful to health in certain products, including glues, correction fluids, erasers, and highlighters.

Between 2023 and 2024, the Fraud Control Agency inspected 46 establishments selling school supplies (wholesalers and retailers). Of the 31 products analyzed in the laboratory, 14 were found to be non-compliant, 9 of which were deemed harmful to health and are no longer sold.

The harmful effects of the products "resided mainly in their composition," according to the investigation. They contained quantities of chemical substances well above the regulatory level.

For example, the DGCCRF points to the high presence of phenoxyethanol - a chemical preservative used to prevent the proliferation of bacteria and fungi - or propan-1-ol - an antibacterial agent used to dissolve inks - which are powerful eye irritants.

Other products were manufactured with an excessive dose of octylisothiazolinone, a biocide toxic to the marine environment, preventing the growth of bacteria and mold in aqueous products and potentially causing skin pain.

Another problem: "the absence of certain warning and hazard information on packaging," the administration observes. The cause was a lack of marking, which resulted in hazard pictograms smaller than those required by law. This could lead consumers to be unaware of the risks inherent in using certain products.

Don't panic. "The professionals concerned by the dangers have generally withdrawn and recalled the products" that are no longer on the shelves, the report states. In the event of a problem, "the DGCCRF takes the necessary measures with the professionals to have the products removed from the market."

The authority has withdrawn 66,221 highlighters, 18,000 correction pens, and 6,048 pens in the Île-de-France region alone. Some supplies have even been recalled to consumers, such as Expertiz highlighters sold by Aldi, which were recalled in October 2023, or dual-tip markers sold by Cultura, which were recalled in March 2024.

The DGCCRF issued a total of 39 warnings to remind people of the regulations, as well as 15 injunctions and 3 reports "to correct or sanction the most serious breaches", namely the placing on the market of a mixture containing a dangerous chemical substance with non-compliant labeling.

Manufacturers have also been issued injunctions to verify the fairness of claims, particularly environmental ones. These include removing prohibited statements, such as the term "biodegradable," or unjustified statements, such as those for erasers that are "PVC and plasticizer-free" and "free from harmful substances." These are attractive claims, intended to seduce consumers, without actually reflecting the reality of the product.

The DGCCRF calls on buyers to remain attentive, particularly by checking pictograms and reading labels which may reveal necessary information.