Rumor Control: Victoria's Secret bras are safe
As millions of women know, Victoria's Secret bras are safe. You may have seen media reports or online postings that claim Victoria's Secret bras contain formaldehyde. Because of our commitment to our customers' safety and satisfaction, we want you to have the facts. We hope that with the complete truth, we continue to earn your confidence in our products every day.
Victoria's Secret does not add formaldehyde to its bras, and multiple, independent tests confirm that Victoria's Secret bras are formaldehyde-free or contain only traces which are significantly lower than allowed by the most stringent textile guidelines in the world. Dermatologists and various authorities all confirm that even those individuals who are allergic to formaldehyde would not have a reaction at this low level, despite public claims by a Cleveland law firm. Here are the facts:
On Dec. 3, 2008, Limited Brands responded to plaintiff's attorney regarding test results, misleading public statements and the plaintiff's testimony about her unusual washing and wearing habits.
Note: On April 22, 2009, plaintiff Roberta Ritter voluntarily withdrew her lawsuit.
Independent lab test results for formaldehyde
- On Nov. 24, 2008, Limited Brands and the plaintiff's (Roberta Ritter) attorneys simultaneously received independent test results for plaintiff's bra that show that Victoria's Secret bras are formaldehyde-free or contain only traces which are significantly lower than allowed by the most stringent textile guidelines in the world.
- Independent lab results from bras of same style and make as plaintiff's (Roberta Ritter) bra show Victoria's Secret bras are formaldehyde-free or contain only traces.
- WSYX-TV (ABC, Columbus, Ohio) independently tested Victoria's Secret bras with similar findings.
About the testing process:
Textile experts around the world use a standard quantitative test as the most reliable way to detect the presence of formaldehyde in clothing. That is the test that was used by independent labs to examine Victoria's Secret bras.
For more information about formaldehyde limits for clothing and the quantitative testing, known as EN ISO 14184-1, visit:http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/policylawresearch/product-safety-law/proposed-statement/proposed-policy-statement.pdf
More information about formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is found naturally in the environment and is widely used in many consumer products. You could expect to find it in dollar bills, medicines, wood furniture, baby wipes...even fresh fruits and vegetables. Although formaldehyde is quite common, we do not add it to Victoria's Secret bras – honestly because there's no need to use it in this type of product.
The most stringent textile guidelines in the world also take into account that there is often formaldehyde found in the environment that make a true zero test result nearly impossible. According to scientific literature, any level of formaldehyde less than 20 parts per million (ppm) is considered to be "non detectable," "non existent" or a "false positive" reading. Dermatologists indicate that even those individuals who are allergic to formaldehyde would not have a reaction at this low level. The tested Victoria's Secret bras all had formaldehyde levels below 20 ppm – well below the accepted standard for adult clothing in direct contact with skin which is 75 ppm.
For our customers
Customer safety and satisfaction are always our primary concerns, and we take very seriously any issues our customers may have with our products. If you ever have a concern with a Victoria's Secret product, please let us know. Our customer care center representatives care about your experience and are happy to help: 800-411-5116 or Service@VictoriasSecret.com