Consumer watchdog Which? discovered dozens of unsafe baby products remain available for purchase on major online marketplaces including Amazon and TikTok, despite existing safety notices and recalls.
The investigation found pillows, sleeping bags, and feeders that violate safety standards or carry active recall notices. These items pose serious risks to infants, including suffocation hazards and choking dangers. Which? tested products across multiple platforms and identified violations of British safety regulations.
Amazon hosts the bulk of flagged items, though TikTok Shop also sells recalled merchandise. The e-commerce giant acknowledged the findings and stated it removes products when notified of violations, but Which? argues Amazon's systems fail to catch unsafe goods before they reach consumers.
The safety notices covering these products came from regulators including the Office of Product Safety and Standards. Some items have been banned for years, yet sellers continue listing them without restrictions. Which? found that enforcement relies heavily on complaints rather than proactive monitoring.
Parents buying from these platforms assume items meet UK safety standards. Unsafe baby products can cause severe injury or death. Sleeping pillows, for instance, increase sudden infant death syndrome risk when placed in cribs. The watchdog called for stronger accountability from marketplaces to verify product compliance before sale.
The findings highlight a persistent gap between regulatory intent and enforcement reality. Online sellers exploit weak verification systems, and marketplaces prioritize seller volume over safety checks. Which? recommends consumers verify product safety through official channels and avoid items flagged by regulators, but places primary responsibility on platforms to prevent unsafe products from listing in the first place.
Both Amazon and TikTok face pressure to implement stricter vetting procedures for baby products and children's goods.