Is it normal for silicone products to have an odor?

Is it normal for silicone products to have an odor? Silicone products are widely used in the fields of mother and baby, medical, electronics, industry, etc. due to their high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, and other characteristics. However, newly purchased silicone products often come with a slight odor, causing consumers to doubt their safety and quality.

The source of odor in silicone products:
Production residues
Silicone products need to be formed through vulcanization process, with vulcanizing agents acting as catalysts to promote cross-linking and curing of silicone molecules at high temperatures. Although vulcanizing agents may evaporate after molding, some low-quality vulcanizing agents may still have a pungent odor and have a volatilization period of several weeks. In addition, additives such as release agents and colorants may also have residual odors due to improper process control.
Raw material characteristics
Industrial grade silicone may be mixed with recycled materials or non environmentally friendly catalysts to reduce costs, resulting in a strong odor. Food grade and medical grade silicone use platinum vulcanizing agent, with very little residue and a lighter odor. For example, a certain brand of silicone nipple has been tested and found to have only 1/5 of the residual sulfurizing agent of ordinary silicone, making the odor almost imperceptible.
Packaging and storage environment
Silicone products may absorb the odor of packaging materials such as plastic bags and cardboard boxes in sealed packaging, and are particularly prone to mold odor in humid environments. A comparative test in a certain laboratory showed that after being stored in a closed environment for 30 days, the odor intensity of the same batch of silicone products increased by 40%.

How to determine if the odor is normal:
Odor intensity and duration
The slight rubber smell of new silicone products is a normal phenomenon and can usually dissipate naturally after being placed in a ventilated environment for 3-7 days. If the odor is pungent and lasts for more than 15 days, or if the odor worsens after heating, there may be defects in the raw materials or processes. For example, a consumer purchased a silicone spatula that had a burnt smell during its first use, and upon testing, it was found that the vulcanizing agent exceeded the standard by three times.
Usage scenarios and safety standards
Food contact grade silicone must comply with relevant standards, and its odor threshold is much lower than that of industrial grade products. If silicone products are used to hold food or come into contact with infants and young children, caution should be exercised even if the odor is mild. In a certain case, a silicone placemat labeled as "food grade" caused allergies in children due to residual sulfurizing agents. After inspection, it was found that its heavy metal content exceeded the standard.