• Sweden edition
Business & Money

Boob burns not bikini-related: Swedish retailer

Published: 18 May 12 11:40 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/40906/20120518/

The manufacturer of the bikini suspected of having caused severe bust-line burns on a Swedish woman claims that test results reveal the beach garment is not responsible for the woman's scorched skin.


“We take what has happened very seriously and have promised the customer that we will do everything we can to help find the cause of the unpleasant occurrence,” said Charlotte Högberg, head of information at the women’s fashion store Kappahl that retailed the bikini.

However, when an independent company tested the used bra, as well as one that was unused, they found that the chemical content of the two bikinis were different, but they could find nothing to corroborate the claim that it was the metal underwiring of the bra that was the cause of the burns.

However, in the chemical evaluation the company detected the chemical Oxybenzone, an organic compound used in sun screens which is relatively common in the US but is not allowed to be used in European products without a specific marking within the EU.

The reason why the marking is required is because in intensive light it can cause skin reactions reminiscent of burns.

The company also said that despite selling over 100,000 underwired bikinis a year, they have never before heard of any connection between the underwiring and sunbathing.

The testing, however, was important for them as they wanted to make sure it was not their bra that caused the woman’s discomfort.

“It is important to us that our customers are feeling safe with our garments, both when it comes to dangerous chemicals and other defects,” Högberg said.

Rebecca Martin
Follow Rebecca on Twitter here.

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

13:47 May 18, 2012 by Opinionfool
Well of course Kappahl say this, they will clasp at anything to save their business from any profit cleavage as someone boobed in this case. The profits have to be creamed off. Presumably they have their insurance under-wired too just in case the supporting evidence proves to be skimpy and it doesn't hold up with everything falling out. BUt to The Local I want to say "det är inte bra" when you use pictures of two different bikini tops to accompany this story and I suspect of two different women too.
14:39 May 18, 2012 by Stonebridge
TheLocal only runs these bikini-top stories so that their teenage journalists can Google an image search on the word "tits" without being subject to disciplinary measures.
15:43 May 18, 2012 by Svensksmith
Good work if you can get it.
20:15 May 18, 2012 by SimonDMontfort
@ Stonebridge - Agree with you there: I reckon they've been getting ideas from 'The Sun' newspaper!!
21:24 May 20, 2012 by salalah
Nice body...
05:43 May 22, 2012 by Da Goat
Any chance of a sequel to this story so as to get a new picture again? LOL
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Business & Money headlines
Aid cuts would be 'devastating'

Aid cuts would be 'devastating'

Criticism of the government's foreign aid policy is mounting as Swedish ambassadors, aid organizations and politicians slam Development Aid Minister Gunilla Carlsson's announcements that development assistance to several countries may be slashed. READ () »

Swedish forestry firm cuts 2,500 jobs

Swedish forestry firm cuts 2,500 jobs

Forestry giant Stora Enso plans to let another 2,500 employees go, of whom 750 work in Sweden, citing weak markets and deflating profits. READ () »

Sweden among winners in future EU-US deal

Sweden among winners in future EU-US deal

Sweden is second in line to benefit the most from an EU free-trade deal with the US, for which negotiations were finally given the all-clear in a move welcomed by pro-business groups in Sweden. READ () »

New Telia CEO 'excited' about the job

New Telia CEO 'excited' about the job

TeliaSonera's new head Johan Dennelind believes he is the right man to restore the Swedish telecom giant's reputation after the company's Uzbek bribery scandal. READ () »

ABB board unanimous in pick of CEO

ABB board unanimous in pick of CEO

Swiss-Swedish engineering giant ABB has appointed a new CEO, who has a background in oil and gas, utilities, telecoms and automotive industries and who was a key player in the acquisition of Baldor. READ () »

Wine pulled because it was 'too good': supplier

Wine pulled because it was 'too good': supplier

Sweden's state-run liquor store monopoly has sent back 6,000 bottles of a Spanish wine because it tasted better than expected, according to a Swedish alcohol supplier. READ () »

Sweden may cut aid to Palestinian territories

Sweden may cut aid to Palestinian territories

Development aid minister Gunilla Carlsson has said that the Swedish government may reduce development assistance for the Palestinians since they have failed to reach a peace agreement with Israel. READ () »

Gothenburg corruption blamed on city culture

Gothenburg corruption blamed on city culture

A hierarchical "Gothenburg Spirit" among politicians and civil servants contributed to a culture of corruption in the past decade, concluded a report on Sweden's second largest city. READ () »

Sweden abandons bid to lift EU snus export ban

Sweden abandons bid to lift EU snus export ban

The Swedish government has given up its efforts to force the European Union to scrap its ban on the export of snus, choosing instead to focus on protecting the popular moist tobacco product's use in Sweden. READ () »

Labour migration in Sweden
'Swedish work-visa window too narrow'

'Swedish work-visa window too narrow'

Since 2008, migrants to Sweden can swap course from seeking asylum to seeking a work visa with the help of an employer. The Local speaks to one migrant who praises the system, while saying it could be improved. READ () »

More Business & Money

Find a new job in Sweden now
18/06 Accounting Specialist
Hays
Katowice, SLA
18/06 Agency General Manager ? Scandinavia
Göteborg
18/06 C++ Developer
Stockholm
18/06 Chemical Plant Manager
The Valspar
Hendrik Ido Ambacht (NL)
18/06 Cloud Architect
Capgemini Sverige AB
Malmö, SKÅ
18/06 Compliance Manager - Nordics
Ace European Group Ltd
Stockholm
18/06 CPL Ireland - Swedish or Danish
CPL Ireland
Malmö
18/06 Development Engineer Polymer Materials
Tetra Pak International
Lund
18/06 Enterprise Services Solution Architect
Sverige
18/06 Financial Reporting Product Manager
Sverige

ALL JOBS »


 
Latest Business & Money news from Germany
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Trade binary options
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Therapy in English
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE