A high-stakes safety scandal is rattling China’s premium infant care market after leaked laboratory reports suggested high levels of formamide—a known reproductive toxin—in diapers from the market leader Babycare and Mu Zhi Tian Shi. The reports, issued by Lianxin Testing (Jiangsu), indicated formamide concentrations as high as 414 mg/kg, far exceeding the safety thresholds often cited by consumer advocacy groups. The news immediately triggered panic among parents on social media, for whom Babycare represents a high-end benchmark for safety.
However, the controversy took a confusing turn when Lianxin Testing issued a formal retraction, characterizing the leaked documents as "invalid" drafts that were circulated before undergoing the full verification process. The laboratory claimed that because the reports lacked a specific "cross-page" seal, they should not be considered official findings. Despite this, the documents featured signatures from checkers and approvers alongside the company’s official testing stamp, leading many to suspect the retraction was a form of damage control.
This incident follows a broader investigation by state-run media on June 18, which found formamide residues in multiple top-tier brands including Huggies and Babycare. Formamide is classified by the European Union as a Category 1B reproductive toxin; it is an oily, colorless substance that can easily penetrate an infant's thin skin. Experts warn that long-term exposure can lead to accumulated damage in the liver and kidneys, and it is a primary culprit behind persistent diaper rash and skin ulcerations.
The credibility of the messenger is as much in question as the safety of the products. Lianxin Testing was fined by regulators as recently as February 2023 for issuing "untruthful reports," a record that makes their current backtracking look particularly suspicious to the public. Internal sources suggest the firm has now reached a settlement with the clients to cancel the testing orders and has temporarily suspended all diaper-related testing services due to the intense public scrutiny.
For Babycare, a brand that has built a multi-billion dollar empire on the promise of "scientific parenting" and superior quality, these recurring toxicity allegations are a localized nightmare. While the regulatory environment for formamide in diapers remains somewhat gray in China compared to EU standards, the reputational damage is quantifiable. In an era where Chinese parents are increasingly skeptical of domestic safety claims, the perception of a cover-up between brands and labs could be more damaging than the chemical residue itself.