Advocacy Group Flags Toy-Chemical Disclosure Gap in Maine
Major toy companies, including Crayola and Build-A-Bear Workshop, failed to disclose the presence of toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde, phthalates, arsenic, and mercury in their products to Maine regulators. This disclosure gap was discovered by an advocacy group comparing reports…
Portland Auburn, ME, October 23, 2026 —
An advocacy group has identified a gap between chemical disclosures made by major toy companies in other states and information provided to Maine regulators. The companies named in the findings include Crayola and Build-A-Bear Workshop.
According to the trend summary, reports filed in other states acknowledged the presence of chemicals including formaldehyde, phthalates, arsenic and mercury in the companies’ products, while the chemicals were not disclosed to Maine regulators. The summary does not identify the specific products involved or explain how many filings were compared.
The findings have raised concerns about Maine’s consumer protection oversight because the system relies on corporate self-reporting. The available information does not describe the state’s disclosure requirements, identify any regulatory action, or say whether regulators have responded to the findings. It also does not establish why the disclosures differed between states.
The advocacy group’s name and the dates of the reports were not provided. The summary likewise does not specify the amount or level of any chemical in a product, whether the products remain on sale, or whether the companies have addressed the disclosure gap. Those details would be needed to clarify the scope of the findings and what steps, if any, may follow.
For now, the reported issue is a difference in disclosures identified through a comparison of state filings. The concern raised is whether a system based on companies reporting information themselves provides regulators with a complete account. The information available does not include an assessment of exposure or health effects, and it does not describe any inspection or enforcement outcome.
Story summarized from the original created by Penelope Overton on www.pressherald.com, see more information here.
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