by Alison Jolicoeur
January 21st 2010

Here is the statement I received from Venture Porducts in response to my inquiry about the presence of formamide in their Best Step foam mats:

There are many open questions related to the presence of formamide residue in certain products. Formamides are used as part of the foam manufacturing process.   As a result, some level of formamides may be present in many foam-based consumer items, from floor mats, to flip-flops and the soles of your sneakers.

All our products are designed and produced with safety in mind. We comply with -- and, in many cases, improve on -- all current, applicable safety and environmental standards and guidelines, including those established by the American Society for Testing and Materials and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. To ensure ongoing compliance with standards and guidelines, we utilize certified, third-party laboratories to conduct regular physical and mechanical testing, flammability testing, and heavy metals / chemicals testing.

No formal, regulatory protocols exist related to formamides, and to date, U.S. agencies have taken no action connected to additional requirements for foam products. We are, however, working with accredited testing laboratories to analyze our foam material. Once the results from the studies that Belgium and France are currently conducting are made available to us, we will take any necessary action to ensure that our foam products meet or exceed relevant U.S. and European safety standards.

The safety of our customers is paramount, and we will take all necessary steps to continue earning the confidence and trust placed in us by those who purchase our products.

Stacy Gordon
Venture Products LLC
(973) 575-9333 x 14

Personally, I wasn't pleased with this response considering I was told the test results would be available the first week of January. Also, it is not helpful to say that the product meets all safety regulations, but that formamide isn't regulated. I would like some answers and will keep asking until I see some results! To read the full report click here