South Korea finds Temu, AliExpress selling baby products containing toxic substances

Through inspection, the Seoul city government discovered and requested Temu and AliExpress platforms to stop selling many children's products containing toxic substances exceeding standards.

AliExpress and Temu were asked by South Korea to stop selling some children's products due to containing toxic substances exceeding safety standards - Photo: AILI EXPRESS

According to AFP, the Seoul city government, South Korea on June 27 requested e-commerce platforms Temu and AliExpress to temporarily stop selling some children's products due to safety concerns, after discovering many items seriously violated quality regulations in Korea.

The latest test results released showed that out of 35 items including umbrellas, raincoats, children's rain boots and other cheap household products sold on Temu and AliExpress, 11 items did not meet Korean safety standards or contained chemical content exceeding the prescribed threshold.

The inspection agency found that six umbrella samples contained levels of phthalate plasticizers that exceeded Korea's safety limits, with some samples exceeding the threshold by up to 443.5 times.

In addition, two other items were also found to have lead content 27.7 times higher than the permitted level.

The Seoul government warned that long-term exposure to these toxic substances could have adverse effects on children's physical development and health, and recommended that consumers carefully check product information before making a purchase decision.

Children's umbrellas found to contain toxic substances exceeding domestic standards in South Korea - Photo: CHOSUN ILBO

Temu confirmed that they conducted an internal review immediately after receiving the notice, and are currently in the process of removing substandard products.

A Temu spokesperson stressed to APF that the company is improving its quality control system to prevent, detect and eliminate substandard products.

Meanwhile, AliExpress has yet to make an official response.

Phthalates are chemicals that can disrupt hormones and affect reproductive function. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, exposure to phthalates above the allowable limit may increase the risk of cancer.

In 2024, the Seoul city government discovered that some women's accessories sold on Shein, AliExpress, and Temu platforms contained toxic substances, with concentrations hundreds of times higher than the safety threshold.

At the end of August 2024, the European Union (EU) also included Shein in a list of large digital platforms that must comply with stricter terms, especially regarding requirements to ensure safety for consumers, including children.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/han-quoc-phat-hien-temu-aliexpress-ban-san-pham-tre-em-chua-chat-doc-hai-20250628101240917.htm