Hi Beverly, Thank you for your question. I'm glad to hear Erkel is recovering from his infection and that you are working to change his lifestyle. In answer to your question, our bells, hardware and chain are all nickle-plated steel and are not zinc galvanized. I am not aware of any zinc coated plastics, perhaps your vet is referring to imported dog toys which have been found to contain high levels of lead and zinc in the paint. All of our plastic toy parts meet the very rigorous standards set for children's toys. Please be sure to check out our educational website AvianEnrichment.com to learn more about how to enrich Erkel's life and a very excellent resource on making foraging toys is found at ParrotEnrichment.com.