The safety of our products and toys are our paramount concern here at NJ Croce Company. Our products are manufactured only in factories that have been audited and certified by the ICTI (International Council of Toy Industries). All of our toy products meet or exceed Federal regulations and conform to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and ASTM F963-11 Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety. These standards include the use of lead-free paint and plastic without the use of phthalates.
To ensure compliance with these standards, NJ Croce requires our factories to adhere to material purchasing guidelines and have quality control checkpoints on the production lines. In addition, we send our products to a third-party testing laboratory that is accredited by the CPSC (Consumer Products Safety Commission). The laboratory performs a multitude of tests on both the paint and materials to ensure that the product meets all US toy safety standards.
NJ Croce has consistently made safe toys since 1983, and none of our toy products were affected by the recalls related to lead paint.
Occasionally a synthetic odor may be present with our bendables. The smell comes from the non-phthalate plasticizer used with the PVC material, and generally dissipates before the product is packaged. However, temperature or other environmental factors may cause the odor to linger once the package is opened. This odor usually goes away over time. If it does not dissipate, you can usually eliminate it by cleaning the toy with a solution of vinegar and water:
1. Mix the vinegar and water in a small bucket or bowl. Using a 3-to-1 ratio of water to vinegar will help prevent replacing the PVC smell with a strong vinegar odor.
2. Soak your dishcloth in the solution. Use a soft cloth that will not scratch or damage the toy.
3. Wipe the toy with the dishcloth. Use a second dishcloth soaked in water or run the toy under a running faucet to rinse off the vinegar solution.
NJ Croce is committed to the safety of our children. If you have any further concerns, you can email us at customerservice@njcroce.com.