A new report of mold inside a popular children's teething toy is circulating on social media.
According to GoodHouseKeeping.com, pediatric dentist Dana Chianese said she was cleaning a 'Sophie the Giraffe' toy when she noticed a smell coming from the toy.
Chianese said she decided to cut it open and found mold inside the giraffe.
According to the toy's maker, French company Vulli, they warn the giraffe can be damaged if fully submerged in water. They recommend cleaning the toy with a damp cloth and soapy water.
Chianese told Good Housekeeping she followed these directions.
An Amazon reviewer also posted a photo of mold found inside her Sophie doll.
A spokesperson for Sophie the Giraffe sent Good Housekeeping the following response:
First of all, it's important to know that Sophie la Girafe [Sophie the Giraffe] is composed of 100% natural rubber, so the cleaning instructions have to be carefully respected. As indicated on the packaging and in an explanatory leaflet inside the packaging, we recommend to clean the surface of Sophie la Girafe with a damp cloth. It should not be immersed in the water nor rinsed off, to prevent water from getting inside, as she may become damaged. We thus would like to emphasize on the fact that is it important, while cleaning the product, that no water gets inside the whole. As of now, we have not been contacted by Mrs. Chianese nor Mrs. Opera and were not aware of the situation before reading your article. It is thus difficult for us to comment on the current situation, as we haven't had the chance to examine the products. Please know that each complaint received is taken very seriously and that the return of the product is always asked for further examination. Furthermore, please know that the safety of children and satisfaction of their parents is our main priority. For the past 55 years, we have always strived to exceed security standards and all of our products comply with the most stringent global standards.