Gilchrist & Soames, the makers of those little bottles of shampoo and mouthwash that we all use at some fine luxury properties just announced that they are recalling all of their toothpaste because it contains a funky and dangerous ingredient that can really do damage to people. The offending ingredient is actually a main component of anti-freeze.

If you have not turned on the news, logged on or picked up a paper in the last few weeks, this is just one of 1000’s of items imported from China that are currently under recall, inspection or being looked at……..literally under a microscope.

Now, this is not the fault of the hotels, they did not manufacture, mix, build, design, create or do anything other than place an order. They basically got screwed the same way that Gilchrist and Soames did.

Here is how the little international shell game works. Company A goes and orders Product A. Samples are delivered and they are tested, poked, smelled, etc. The samples of course, check out perfect.

The switcheroo comes when Product A is delivered. It is actually crap product B, made to lower standards using substandard materials. Poor Mattel found this out when they had to recall over 8 million toys contaminated with lead. 

This leads me to what we in the event industry order as give-aways for our attendees.

We as event and meeting planners now have to be very careful with what we order and give away to our attendees. Where did it come from, how was it manufactured.

Are the trinkets and trash that you ordered going to end up back at home with an attendee’s 8 month old gnawing on it like a bulldog with a bone? If little Timmy is chomping away, is he chomping away on something that contains enough lead to shield you from an x-ray or nuclear bomb blast?

Another wonderful thought. Did the bag you order contain lead or other noxious material? Good question, I know that this morning, baby’s bibs sold at Toys-R-Us were recalled because they contain lead. They are probably manufactured in the same facility as your oh-so-cool messenger bag give-away.

How do we as meeting and event people check that give-aways are safe, where do we turn to find out if the products that we order are safe for our attendees, exhibitors and staff members.

What about the poor workers who are making this stuff. You think little Timmy is gonna have problems, try working with the tainted raw materials for a few months or years, 12 hours a day with no protective gear.

The answer to how we find out if these items are safe is a little more daunting than you would think.

There is no International Squishy Logo Ball Safety Council.


Short of testing the items yourself, I think that it may be an impossible task unless you are ordering product from a manufacturer you know is doing the checking (Logo I-Pods from Apple, etc) and will recall items if there is a problem.

Finding out how we can verify the safety of our give-aways is actually on my list of things to do. Questions, I do not want to ask but now have too.

I am going to start by asking our vendors if they know. I know that the first time I ask the question, the answer is not going to comfort me. No one knows how flashy blinky lights, backpacks or glow in the dark straws are manufactured. No one wants to know and up till now, we kinda lived with “trinkets and trash” rose colored glasses on.

Nothing will change at first, but in some small way, asking the questions will eventually make the world a better place. If enough event planners check and take the time to find out how something is made, manufacturers will have to create products that are safe or be faced with having no one to buy their products. That is a bad business model and they will change.

Then it will be a little safer for attendees, staff, workers and good-ol-little Timmy.

Just a thought…..

Keith