By KATIE FOUTZ Staff Writer

A group of mothers and children gathered in front of the Naperville Target store Thursday afternoon to protest toxic toys and other products that are sold at the retailer.

More than 200 protests were planned at other Target stores around the country and at the company's annual shareholder meeting in Cleveland. Protesters picked Target because it has not phased out polyvinyl chloride in its products or packaging, while other major companies have - including Wal-Mart, Ikea, Nike, Microsoft, H & M and Johnson & Johnson.

The moms protesting in Naperville are members of Making Our Milk Safe, a group that advocates eliminating toxic chemicals from their environment, bodies and breast milk. Joining a national campaign by the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, the group handed fliers to Target customers urging them to buy PVC-free and phthalate-free products. The group also delivered a letter to the store manager about phasing out PVC.

PVC is found in plastic packaging and products such as children's toys, teething rings, shower curtains, lunch boxes, shampoo bottles and home building materials.

A common phthalate in PVC can cause reproductive defects and other health problems, according to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group's Web site, Toysafety.net.

Illinois MOMS group leader Stephanie Felten of Aurora, who has a 20-month-old son, has learned to identify PVC products by their "vinyl shower curtain" smell.

"PVC passes into children easily, and that's true for lots of toxic chemicals because children put everything in their mouths," Felten said.

Target did not return phone calls for comment Thursday.

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