Study reveals safety concerns for products purchased from Temu in Denmark

A recent study revealed significant safety concerns regarding products purchased from the Chinese platform Temu, with alarming findings for consumers, particularly parents. Out of 38 tested items, 11 out of 15 toys posed choking hazards or risked injury to small children. Additionally, two out of four phone chargers exhibited potentially lethal safety flaws, and all tested sunscreens contained ingredients suspected of being hormone disruptors.

Only eight products met the EU’s health and safety standards, as assessed by four experts specialized in product safety. This report echoes similar findings from previous studies in Italy and the UK, highlighting a troubling trend of unsafe products on e-commerce platforms. The Consumer Council emphasizes that consumers should not bear the burden of ensuring product safety when shopping from Danish-language websites, urging political action to address these issues.

Despite warnings from consumer advocates, Temu has rapidly gained popularity in Denmark, now ranking as the second-most-used online shopping site after Zalando. Calls for action from politicians have amplified, especially after Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke advised consumers to avoid the platform.

Concerns are particularly pronounced in the category of toys and children’s products, where many items have been highlighted as dangerous. The study found products with serious construction flaws, like a rattle with a detachable eye that could be swallowed by children. In response to the study’s findings, Temu has removed non-compliant products as a precaution while they undergo review.

Temu’s business model enables direct purchases from manufacturers, which keeps prices low. The platform aims to “democratize supply chains,” allowing consumers to shop affordably.