Dutch group warns consumers about dangerous products from Shein, Temu

A new investigation by four European consumer organizations has found that most products sold through the Chinese platforms Temu and Shein fail to meet EU safety standards. In fact, the Consumers’ Association reports that one in four of the tested items posed a clear danger to consumers.

The products were found to pose risks such as fire, choking, and exposure to toxic materials. As a result, the Consumers’ Association recommends avoiding the purchase of toys, electronics, and jewelry from these online marketplaces.

Consumer groups in Germany, France, Belgium, and Denmark collectively bought 162 products from the Chinese platforms. According to the Consumers’ Association, several toys contained harmful substances, including the hormone-disrupting compound nonylphenol ethoxylate, while many items also carried incorrect or incomplete labeling.

Serious issues were also found in jewelry. One example is a necklace with a cherry pendant that was made up of 85 percent cadmium, a toxic metal known to cause cancer.

The consumer organizations also purchased USB chargers from the websites. Out of the 54 chargers they purchased, only two met the EU safety standards. Some of the charges overheated while they were charging the device, and some plugs were so flimsy that the internal wiring could break, posing risks of electric shock or short-circuiting.

Temu and Shein were notified of the results by the Consumers’ Association. Temu eventually removed the products from their site, but has not issued a recall. Shein responded more swiftly and also issued a recall to the buyers.