In the last month or so I have read so much about the dangers of phthalates in sex toys, which in legality terms are ‘adult novelties’. 

Please note the word novelties which means a small manufactured adornment especially a personally adornment.  Other word used is - toys, which is to help in fun and entertainment as a means to create and express oneself. 

So then the big craze with phthalates, which really are the materials, the novelties or toys are made out of, the manufacturing process.  So all the big sex toy manufacturers are jumping on the bandwagon about manufacturing their adult novelties – phthalate free, but what does that mean and what are these big manufacturers not communicating.

First let analysis sex toys / adult novelties in general. 

There is not one product on the market that has been approved by the Health Board (FDA) Canada, US or the World that any sex toy using for insertion into the vagina or the anus is safe for use in these areas.  Not one sex toy has been approved.  

Any of the sex toys recommended for the genital areas does not recommend direct for insertion in either the vagina or anus, only for external use. 

Therefore all sex toys made out of whatever material is not safe for these areas.  There is only one thing approved for insertion into the vagina or anus; which are, government related and approved condoms. (Condoms are individual approved by each country).  That should be our number one concern as manufacturers, distributors, etc, that these are novelties and as mentioned above they are suppose to be used in a fun environment.

So back to Phthalates in adult novelties, yes they should be phased out because they are harmful to the body if using for insertion, but there is nothing whether it is silicone, TPR, elastomere etc that is safer for insertion into the body.  Therefore the adult industry is misleading the information about phthalates. 

I personally do not recommend phthalates in the products I import and manufacture, because they smell, they contain a ‘greasy-like’ substance in them.  Honestly to use phthalates in production is cheaper than using silicone, TPR (themo-plastic rubber) or elastomere.  But honestly the problem with phthalates is the bio-gradable problem on the environment, they do break down easier (i.e. faster) than silicone, TPR or elastomere but the effects in the process is actual more harmful on the environment via into the soil, earth etc. 

To analysis this problem with this material is to understand first what phthalates are: a group of chemical compounds that are mainly used as plasticizers, basically they are used to turn polyvinyl chloride from hard plastic into flexible plastic.

Therefore when I read that all manufacturers are moving towards products that are phthalate free is it because they want to ensure that these products are harmful to the body or harmful to the environment????

But all products for insertion could be harmful to the body because these are novelties and novelties / toys were not designed or approved by governments for insertion into any body cavity.  So basically the whole movement is misdirected, what is the exact reason for this movement???

If you want to know my opinion on this matter, I personally believe that all adult novelties are exactly what they are; NOVELITES / TOYS, they are only suppose to be used if fun, entertainment, and when I personally talk about them, I believe you as the retailer have a duty to educate your clients on exactly what novelties / adult sex toys are made out of and available. 

However the final decision should only lie within each consumer as we live in a free country and choice is one of our rights and so is the freedom of information but the final choice is a personal one.

I try to remind everyone that all adult novelties are not approved for insertion vagina or anal and only a condom is FDA approved. 

But in purchasing adult novelties the choice is our consumers, and whether they purchase a phthalate, pvc, silicone etc product, the customer should make the choice based on their own personal decision not because you as a retailer else told them that one type of product is better than another.  Our job as a retailer to consumers is to provide information, not 'negatively influence' a product choice over one to another, but only offer education as the final choice will be the consumers.

But why not just use a condom on all sex toys for insertion; trust me it makes everything a lot safer and as a retailer you are legally covering all basis by providing information that FDA approved condoms should be the only thing used for insertion into a vagina or anus.

And the process is simple, when placing a condom over any adult novelty or sex toy to ensure that the condom does move tie it like a balloon at the base.  Simple, and then once finished throw the condom away.  This also keeps your sex toys clean and fresh.

But this is just my opinion on the matter.