Disposable gloves with a toxic chemical are to blame for a recent recall of cannabis products from a Washington producer.
Products from the pesticide-free producer and processor Freya Farm were the subject of a recent recall after testing revealed o-Phenylphenol contamination.
The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHAA) lists the antimicrobial chemical o-Phenylphenol as a carcinogen.
The chemical had transferred from disposable gloves used during the production process.
Non-sterile food-grade gloves are not subject to ongoing quality and consistency controls after receiving initial approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
Without any further inspection, glove manufacturers can switch to cheaper raw materials, lowering glove durability and potentially transferring toxic compounds to users and products.
“Nothing ruins your day like testing your product, confident it will be clean, only to find it contaminated with some crazy, toxic chemical,” reads a statement from Freya Farm. “The gloves were the last thing we tested, we just never imagined something sold as food safe could transfer such nastiness. The discovery was just the beginning…recalls are costly in more ways than one.”
Following the recall, Eagle Protect announced that Freya Farm had begun purchasing its gloves.
Eagle Protect says that it is implementing proprietary third-party analysis to ensure its gloves are consistently high-quality and free of toxins, pathogens, and other contaminants.
According to Eagle Protect, many peer-reviewed studies have identified harmful toxins and contaminants in gloves.
Eagle Protect says that glove contamination is a real issue for consumer product companies, especially companies in industries like organics, and cannabis, where products must be clean for testing.
“Sourcing quality, third-party gloves, from a company our customers can trust, is assurance they are receiving the best gloves to handle their products,” says Eagle Protect CEO Steve Ardagh. “Sourcing from us mitigates food safety and brand reputational risks.”
According to Eagle Protect, poor-quality, counterfeit, and even reused gloves are being traded, highlighting the need for responsible sourcing.
Especially during COVID-19 when the demand has exceeded supply.
In addition to the risk of recall and brand reputation damage, Eagle Protect says contaminated gloves put consumers and staff at risk of absorbing toxins, some of which can cause cancer and hormonal and reproductive damage.
