In what might be a cautionary tale for niche retailers, Mr. S Leather Co., a famed San Francisco sex shop known for its BDSM and bondage gear, has found itself ensnared in a legal battle over alleged health violations. This SoMa staple, operating since 1979, is accused of selling mouth gags laced with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a toxic chemical with potential reproductive hazards, reports KRON4. Blue Sky Forever, the environmental group leading the charge, has taken action against this retailer for not providing the mandatory warnings, as outlined in Proposition 65.
The civil case hammers home the risks associated with DEHP exposure, which include birth defects and other reproductive issues, a concern first regulated by California law in 2003 and necessitating clear warnings since 2004, the complaint filed by Blue Sky Forever highlights, Mr. S. Leather appears to violate these regulations by selling products like "The Jaw Master Gag" without these warnings, prompting the lawsuit that seeks hefty civil penalties of up to $2,500 for every day each violation occurred but also, the group is calling for an injunction that would halt the sales of the contested gags and potentially initiate a recall, unless the shop complies with proper warning labels, according to details outlined in an article by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Jonathan Schroder, CEO of Mr. S. Leather, has publicly responded to the accusations, stating, "Our only intention was to make a product safer for our customers and, ultimately, more enjoyable to use," adding that they took immediate action to pull the product from their shelves upon learning of the potential chemical presence. "Prop65 warnings are required by law when certain chemicals are present, and we were unaware that the rubber added to the gag had any such chemicals," Schroder said, per KRON4.
