Here at Pure Zees it frustrates us greatly to read some of the product claims on baby mattress websites and packaging. They either have no evidence to back up the provable claim or they are a made up theory that would probably not stand up to further scrutiny if performed.
One example of the "made up theory" is when a manufacturer says that due to the dry environment provided by the natural fibres wool, cotton coconut coir etc, that dust mites can't survive and the mattress is therefore hypoallergenic. Absolute nonsense, as long as there are dry skin cells which the house dust mite feeds on, and which there are plenty of in a bed, than a dust mite is more than happy to get there nourishment from there. It is also important to note that the actual allergen is not the dust mite itself but its poo, so while on their journey they will be leaving that behind.
But this one is the classic con job and thankfully one which was exposed. New parents in the baby mattress market were being duped. This particular case is a great example that shows credible third party certification and testing is essential.
Far be it from us to say ‘We told you so’ … but when you see this kind of thing in the baby mattress market, you’d have to say Pure Zees are going in the right direction in product claims substantiation for the sake of the consumer.
Word reached us from America of a case where the Federal Trade Commission sued one of the leading mattress companies in the USA for making misleading claims in its advertising.
This is something that we have been banging on about for years now and here is a case that proved that it went to the highest level. This isn’t a small supplier who took a chance – this is one of the leading suppliers of baby mattresses in the US. And if they are doing it …
The company claimed that two of its brands were “organic.” According to the FTC, however, very little of the mattresses were made from organic material.
And they went further. This company actually claimed that “that there are no VOCs from Moonlight Slumber products.” (VOCs are volatile organic compounds, commonly known as ‘Off Gassing’ – you can read more about them here)
Finally, the complaint states that the company represented that its mattresses were certified by the “Green Safety Shield” in its ads, but failed to disclose that the Green Safety Shield was their own designation, and that it awarded it to its own products.
So, they said that the material in their baby mattresses was organic when it wasn’t; that they were free from VOCs when they had no such proof, and that they were certified by the Green Safety Shield, which was their own standard.
Fair play to the FTC we say.
And let us show you a photo example of a another so called organic baby mattress we came across. It had all the usual organic wool and cotton claims but hey presto! what did we find when we cut it open? See for yourself
This plastic inner core of the baby mattress was probably 95% of the whole mattress and we are guessing therefore 5% organic if indeed the other components hold up to their organic claim. Look closely and you will also see metal staples of which there were many. Not sure about those either but that's another hot topic. Maybe the manufacturer actually believes it is being true to their organic product claims, and the product is perfect in every other way including safe and comfortable for baby, but I wonder how many people would be wholly happy that it is the organic promise they expected if they also cut the baby mattress open and see what we saw?