Shein and Temu Sell Dangerous Chargers and Toys, According to UFC-Que Choisir

Shein and Temu are selling dangerous USB chargers and toys, according to an investigation by four European consumer protection organizations, including UFC-Que Choisir, published on Thursday.

UFC-Que Choisir, along with three other associations from Denmark, Belgium, and Germany, purchased 27 chargers from Temu and 27 from Shein, as well as an equal number of toys from both platforms, in a completely random manner. However, these items were sold by third-party vendors rather than the platforms themselves.

UFC-Que Choisir then checked for the presence of mandatory markings and subjected the purchased products to a series of chemical, mechanical, and electrical laboratory tests.

The association reports that out of the 54 USB chargers bought, priced between 2 and 19 euros, 4 had high and low voltage circuits too close to each other, posing a risk of electrical arcs, and 14 overheated beyond the maximum allowed temperature of 87 degrees.

Many of these "entry-level products" posed real risks of burns, electric shocks, and fires to users, UFC-Que Choisir stated.

One charger, for example, heated up to 102 degrees.

The association also criticized toys sold with a manufacturing quality that could be "catastrophic," arguing that half of the 54 toys purchased from both platforms had "small parts that detach too easily," posing a choking hazard.

One toy showed formaldehyde levels, a carcinogenic substance, exceeding five times the allowed content in toy textiles.

The three battery-operated toys had battery compartments that opened "too easily," creating another risk for young children.

The investigation did not specify for each implicated product whether it was purchased on Temu or Shein.

When questioned by AFP, Shein stated that it had immediately implemented its standard protocol to ensure these products were removed from sale worldwide and recalled.

Temu was not immediately available for comment to AFP.

Thanks to particularly low prices, Shein and Temu have experienced remarkable success in Europe in recent years, despite criticism of their business model and practices.

In May, the European Commission proposed imposing a fee of 2 euros on each "small" package worth less than 150 euros entering Europe, the vast majority of which come from China. This measure is also part of the French government's budget proposal for 2026 being reviewed by the National Assembly.