Overview
- Independent tests of 162 items bought from third-party sellers on the platforms found widespread breaches of EU safety rules across jewelry, toys, and USB chargers.
- Cadmium in closures of two Shein necklaces exceeded legal limits by up to 8,500 times, a level linked to cancer as well as bone and kidney damage.
- Nearly all tested USB chargers overheated during use to about 88°C, surpassing the EU limit of 77°C and posing risks of deformation, insulation failure, and fire.
- Children’s products showed serious defects, including excessive formaldehyde in baby cloths and squeaky balls louder than permitted, with missing or misleading safety warnings noted.
- Warentest worked with consumer groups in Denmark and Belgium, published article-number warning lists, and the companies said they removed flagged items, with Shein reporting some buyer notifications.