Online Christmas Toy Warning as 70% Fail Battery Safety Tests
With Christmas just five weeks away, parents across the UK are being urged to exercise extreme caution when purchasing battery-operated toys online. A shocking new investigation has revealed that the majority of such products fail to meet mandatory safety standards, putting children at serious risk.
Consumer advocacy group Choice conducted rigorous testing across five major online marketplaces: Shein, AliExpress, eBay, Amazon and Kogan. The results were alarming - 70 per cent of products failed to comply with mandatory button battery safety standards.
The Hidden Danger in Children's Toys
Button batteries, with their bright, shiny appearance and resemblance to lollies, naturally attract young children who may be tempted to put them in their mouths. The consequences can be devastating. Beyond the obvious choking hazard, these small batteries can burn through parts of the digestive system within hours, leading to catastrophic internal injuries and potentially fatal outcomes.
Australia introduced world-first mandatory button battery safety standards in 2022, but these regulations do not apply to online marketplaces selling products from third-party businesses. This regulatory gap has created a dangerous loophole that puts children at risk.
Choice deputy director of campaigns Andy Kelly expressed grave concerns about the findings. "Choice has conducted several battery button safety tests in our labs in recent years, and failures have been common," he revealed. "Last year, we reported on the results of our test of 15 common household products containing button batteries. Ten of the products failed to meet the mandatory standards."
Which Retailers Are Putting Children at Risk?
The most recent investigation saw researchers purchase five toys or novelty items containing button batteries from each online platform. The results painted a troubling picture of inconsistent safety compliance.
Every single item from Shein, AliExpress and eBay failed the safety tests, along with some products from Amazon. In a rare piece of positive news, all five products purchased from Kogan passed the safety assessment.
Mr Kelly described the varied responses from retailers when confronted with the findings. "When we alerted Ali Express about our findings, the company rejected them as 'unsubstantiated' within hours," he said. "When we appealed that decision, our appeal was rejected. Both Amazon and eBay removed the products from their sites shortly after we reported them. We never heard back from Shein."
Among the dangerous products identified was a Shein keychain whose battery could be removed without any tools, making it easily accessible to children. The product also lacked mandatory warning labels about button battery risks.
The Tragic Human Cost Behind the Statistics
The campaign for button battery safety emerged from heartbreaking tragedies. In 2016, four-year-old Summer Steer and 14-month-old Isabella Reese lost their lives after swallowing button batteries. Isabella's mother, Alison Burns, became a tireless advocate for mandatory standards following her daughter's death, establishing Bella's Footprints to raise awareness and drive change.
Tragedy struck again in 2020 when three-year-old Brittney Conway became Australia's third recorded button battery fatality. The battery became lodged in her oesophagus, burning through to her aorta.
According to Queensland Health, approximately 20 children each week across Australia require hospital treatment due to suspected button battery incidents.
Regulatory Action and Corporate Responsibility
Mr Kelly explained that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) initially issued a voluntary industry code for button battery safety, but manufacturers largely ignored it, rendering the measure ineffective at reducing risks to children.
"That's why CHOICE is calling for stronger product safety laws that make it illegal for all companies to sell unsafe products – and online marketplaces should be no exception," he stated. "Online marketplaces continue to undermine the effectiveness of strong mandatory standards by failing to ensure that the products they sell are compliant and safe."
Regulatory bodies have begun taking enforcement action. In May 2023, the ACCC issued its first penalties for violations of the button battery standards against The Reject Shop and Dusk, totalling approximately $240,000. The retailers were selling novelty Halloween products that failed to meet safety requirements.
More recently, in October 2024, the ACCC recalled three products with non-compliant button batteries. The commission also compelled beloved Australian children's group The Wiggles to admit they had breached regulations by selling thousands of Emma Bow headbands lacking mandatory safety warnings.
The Wiggles have agreed to produce a special episode of their podcast 'Wiggle Talk – A Podcast For Parents' addressing the recall and discussing safety issues relating to children's toys.
In two additional cases this year, the ACCC issued eight infringement notices and $150,240 in penalties to Hungry Jack's for supplying a non-compliant Garfield-themed toy. The commission also initiated court proceedings against retailer City Beach for selling 70 product lines with button batteries that failed to meet safety standards.
As the Christmas shopping season intensifies, consumer advocates urge parents to carefully inspect any toys containing button batteries, ensure they have secure compartments requiring tools to open, and verify that appropriate warning labels are present. The convenience of online shopping must not come at the cost of children's safety.
