The following letter was provided by Insect Lore regarding the quality and safety of their toys. It is reprinted here for your convenience.
Thank you for your interest in the safety of Insect Lore’s Nature and Science Toys and Educational Products. We understand your concern, especially in light of the recent recalls based on lead content and small magnets in children’s toys, and more broadly many other products that are made in China.
Please be assured that we have always taken safety and environmental issues very seriously since our inception in 1969, nearly 40 years ago. We are extremely proud of the fact that during these many decades we have NEVER issued a recall for ANY product that we have ever made. Our Live Butterflies, Ladybugs, Earthworms, Beetles and Ants are all proudly grown here in the U.S.A.
Each of our Insect Lore branded Chinese-made products are thoroughly tested to make sure that they are certified non-toxic and absolutely safe for children. In fact our items conform to stringent Federal Safety Standards.
Our products have been tested at an accredited testing lab. One of these tests - the ASTM test - examines the products for unsafe substances according to U.S. standards. Since we also have a European division - where the regulations are even more stringent - our U.S. products also undergo the more complicated and rigorous EN-71 testing.
Our educational and nature related items are manufactured in clean, inspected factories that we have been doing business with for many years, and together they partner with us to ensure the highest quality for our products. In addition, we have an American trading partner stationed in China full time to ensure that our own internal Quality Control concerns are adhered to by the manufacturers. Collectively, the Toy Industry Association has worked continuously to strengthen our testing and inspection procedures and ensure safe toys.
It is also important to note that the recent recalls are Product, Brand, AND Company specific and are not reflective the fundamental safety of many other toys in toy stores.
For any questions specifically related to these recalls or for more information about general toy safety regulations please see the Toy Industry Association web site at http://www.toy-tia.org
Again, thank you for your natural concern; we surely hope that you will continue to enjoy the educational and fascinating benefits of our range of products.
John White
President, Insect Lore