Carcinogens Detected in Chinese Children’s Products Sold Online

Carcinogens found at 384 times the safe limit in Chinese children’s products
Experts warn against low-pricing tactics
All affected items were recalled on Amazon in the US

Consumer complaints are rising as Chinese e-commerce shopping platforms are wrapping up the Korean market with an aggressive low-price strategy. In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has conducted a comprehensive investigation into the safety of children’s products sold on these platforms ahead of Children’s Day.

Chinese e-commerce shopping apps, including Ali, Temu, and Shein, have captured the hearts of domestic consumers with their breakthrough prices. In particular, Temu sells many ultra-low-cost products under the title shopping like a billionaire.

In light of this, the Korea Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey titled Status and Perception of Using Chinese Online Shopping Platforms among 800 consumers who have used these platforms within the past year. Among the respondents, 93.1% stated they use these services due to the attractive prices, highlighting the significant marketing advantage of low-cost policies from these Chinese shopping platforms.

However, the low prices have had a shocking impact on consumers. On April 25th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government found that half of the 22 types of children’s products investigated on Chinese online platforms contained harmful substances exceeding the standard.

Notably, in decorative items for shoes called jibbitz, 7 out of 16 contained phthalates at levels 348 times the standard limit. This substance is known to cause infertility, raising concerns for families with children and those planning for a second child.

Some products contained lead levels up to 33 times higher than the standard. These ingredients are potential carcinogens designated by the International Cancer Research Institute and are dangerous even for adults, causing controversy for being detected in large quantities in children’s products.

Additionally, the Seoul Metropolitan Government warned that physical tests showed that parts could break with little force, posing risks of ingestion or choking if used by infants.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced plans to regularly disclose information on the inspected items and sales locations and detect harmful substances on its website. It also plans to expand the inspection scope to various foreign and Ali and Temu Chinese e-commerce platforms.

Kim Kyung Mi, the Director of Fair Economy at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, “Seoul has launched inspections on children’s products ahead of Children’s Day and confirmed shocking results,” noting, “especially the quality complaints are higher for Chinese platforms compared to other foreign platforms.”

An Hye Ri, Director of the Consumer Public Interest Network, advised, “When purchasing infant and children’s products through Ali and Temu, it is necessary to verify their certification accurately. It is advisable not to purchase ultra-cheap products below the usual transaction range.”

In early April, the Incheon Customs analyzed the components of jewelry sold in Ali and Temu. They announced that 24% of the 404 products, or 96 products, contained carcinogenic substances higher than the standard. They even revealed that cadmium and lead were detected in amounts ranging from 10 to nearly 700 times the domestic safety standard.

This has led to various online community concerns such as “Could the watch strap I bought also contain carcinogens?”, “Could beauty and medical devices also be carcinogenic?” and “Is it safe to wear clothes made in China?”

As investigations into detecting carcinogens in Chinese products increase, the government is expected to introduce a more thorough surveillance system. The Personal Information Protection Commission, a direct agency of the Prime Minister, will investigate the collection and use of personal information by Chinese e-commerce shopping platforms. The Fair Trade Commission will then investigate allegations of exaggeration and false advertising by Temu.

Meanwhile, last year, Chinese children’s products were entirely recalled from Amazon, a representative online shopping platform in the United States (2023). Children’s pajamas sold on Amazon from March to June last year were recalled due to the risk of burns.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled all Chinese products that failed to meet the authority’s flammability standards, and it was known that the scale of the recall was as many as 13,300 pairs. The flammability standard is a criterion made to minimize damage by reducing the burning time when clothes catch fire.

The product, made by a Chinese company called iMOONZZZ, is known not to have caused any accidents or injuries.

An industry insider pointed out, “Especially for children’s products, more attention needs to be paid to flammability standards, and cheap products are likely to fall below these standards.”