Chicco USA, Inc. originated in Italy and makes child restraint systems and car seats, including booster seats. Car seats are safety devices, but the complaint for this class action alleges that some of Chicco’s car seats are not safe because they contain hazardous chemicals, including flame retardants (FRs) and per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
The Nationwide Class for this action is all individuals in the US who bought the car seats between 2019 and the present. An Illinois Subclass has also been defined for individuals in the above class in Illinois.
FRs are chemicals containing phosphorus or bromine that are added to other materials, such as plastics and textiles. The complaint alleges, “These chemicals are linked to developmental disorders, cancer, endocrine disruption, diabetes and other serious medical issues.”
PFAS are used to make products resistant to water, stains, or grease. The complaint alleges that these substances “are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, decreased immunity and high cholesterol, among many other health issues.”
The complaint alleges that both of these kinds of chemicals can migrate out of the materials in which they are used and be absorbed or ingested by the children who occupy the car seats.
The complaint alleges that young children’s “brains and bodies are still developing” and their “is much more permeable than adult skin … [and] acts like a sieve allowing more substances to pass through than adult skin does. Furthermore, the surface area of a baby’s skin is between three and five times greater than an adult relative to body weight.” This means that a substance absorbed through a baby’s skin “ends up being considerably more concentrated in a baby’s body.”
The complaint claims that Chicco makes no disclosures of the FRs and PFAS in its most popular car seat, the KeyFit 30. The complaint quotes Chicco’s website as saying, “Chicco performs extensive chemical testing on all our products. Independent third-party testing ensures that our products meet rigorous state and federal chemical requirements, including tests for the use of chemicals of concern.”
But the complaint alleges that Chicco car seats made before its 2021 ClearTex series, including the KeyFit 30, contain FR chemicals. This is, the complaint claims, “because it is significantly cheaper to meet the flammability standard by treating their car seats with FRs as opposed to making the car seats out of natural fibers that would likewise satisfy the federal flammability standard.”
As to PFAS, the complaint claims that Chicco says, “All car seats and strollers do not contain added perfluorinated compounds, PFAS.” In fact, the complaint alleges, independent testing has shown that Chicco’s car seats, including the KeyFit line, “tested positive for presence of flame retardants in the upholstery and likely contained PFAS.”
The complaint faults Chicco for not disclosing to consumers the presence of these chemicals in its lower-priced car seats.
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Consumer
Most Recent Case Event
Chicco Car Seats Presence of Flame Retardants and PFAS Class Action
July 1, 2022
Chicco USA, Inc. originated in Italy and makes child restraint systems and car seats, including booster seats. Car seats are safety devices, but the complaint for this class action alleges that some of Chicco’s car seats are not safe because they contain hazardous chemicals, including flame retardants (FRs) and per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Chicco Car Seats Presence of Flame Retardants and PFAS Class ActionCase Event History
Chicco Car Seats Presence of Flame Retardants and PFAS Class Action
July 1, 2022
Chicco USA, Inc. originated in Italy and makes child restraint systems and car seats, including booster seats. Car seats are safety devices, but the complaint for this class action alleges that some of Chicco’s car seats are not safe because they contain hazardous chemicals, including flame retardants (FRs) and per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Chicco Car Seats Presence of Flame Retardants and PFAS Class Action