Key facts
- Which? identified 150 potentially lethal baby products sold on major UK online marketplaces.
- Risks include choking from self-feeding devices and suffocation from sleep pillows and certain sleeping bags.
- Products were found on platforms including Amazon, Alibaba, AliExpress, eBay, Etsy, OnBuy, and TikTok Shop.
- The consumer group is urging the government to make online marketplaces legally responsible for third-party products.
- The investigation focused on items that had previously received safety alerts from the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS).
Babies are at risk from potentially lethal infant products being sold on major online marketplaces in the UK, according to an investigation by the consumer group Which?. The research identified 150 products, including self-feeding prop feeders and baby sleep pillows, that pose serious risks such as choking and suffocation. These items were found listed for sale on platforms including Alibaba, AliExpress, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, OnBuy, and TikTok Shop. Which? stated that every platform investigated was selling multiple items that could endanger an infant's life. Amazon was found to be listing nearly a quarter of the unsafe products, despite presenting itself as an industry leader in detecting dangerous goods. Sue Davies, head of consumer protection policy at Which?, criticized the platforms for not preventing these dangerous items from reaching consumers, questioning their claims of prioritizing safety. Which? is urging the government to utilize new powers under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act to make online marketplaces legally accountable for third-party products, with penalties for non-compliance. The investigation specifically highlighted 54 self-feeding devices, despite a 2022 OPSS alert warning of injury or death risks, and 37 sleep pillows marketed for infants under 12 months, which are linked to suffocation and SIDS. Additionally, 59 baby sleeping bags with hoods or without arm holes were identified as posing a suffocation risk and not meeting British safety standards. Many of these were marketed as "bunny-style" and one was pictured covering a baby's mouth and nose. In response, the marketplaces have stated they have removed the flagged products. Alibaba and AliExpress committed to educating sellers and enhancing control measures. Etsy confirmed removal of policy-violating listings, while Amazon stated it was investigating the highlighted products. OnBuy and eBay also confirmed removal of unsafe items, with eBay noting some had already been flagged by their own systems. TikTok Shop stated it has policies to protect customers and proactively removes non-compliant products. Which? emphasized that the Product Regulation and Metrology Act, which grants ministers powers to impose safety requirements on marketplaces, has yet to be implemented, and urged swift government action.