U.S. launches investigation into Shein and Temu over ‘deadly’ baby items

Shein and Temu, two extraordinarily popular online companies that sell clothing and other items, are under fire this week. On Wednesday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released a statement calling on staff to investigate safety concerns involving both brands.

In an open letter, the CPSC alleged that the companies may be selling dangerous products: “We are aware of recent media reports that deadly baby and toddler products are easy to find on these platforms.”

The statement continued, “We are also aware of reporting that ‘thousands of Chinese factories and vendors have joined the supply chain for Shein and Temu, whose popularity has exploded in the U.S. with their offers of inexpensive made-in-China goods, from T-shirts and handbags to electronics and kitchen items.'”

While the CPSC did not mention specific products, a link to an article on The Information explained that padded crib bumpers, banned in 2022, are still sold on these sites. Toddler drawstring hoodies, which may pose a strangulation risk, were also mentioned.

While it could be clearer which products the CPSC is referring to in the open letter or the full scope of the issue, it’s not the first time the bargain sites Shein and Temu have raised safety concerns. Shein, founded in China and operated out of Singapore, has already been the subject of multiple lawsuits. In May, South Korean authorities reported that some products sold by Shein contained high levels of hormone-disrupting phthalates. There have also been reports of child labor in Shein’s supply chain.

Meanwhile, in June a lawsuit against Temu was brought by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. In it, Griffin accused the company of deceptive trade practices. “Temu is not an online marketplace like Amazon or Walmart,” Griffin said in a statement. “It is a data-theft business that sells goods online as a means to an end.

“Though it is known as an e-commerce platform,” the statement continued, “Temu is functionally malware and spyware. It is purposefully designed to gain unrestricted access to a user’s phone operating system. It can override data privacy settings on users’ devices, and it monetizes this unauthorized collection of data.” Griffin also pointed out that the Temu app was suspended from the Apple store in 2023, prompting an investigation.

Shein also recently sued Temu over allegedly stealing its designs. It was just the latest in a series of lawsuits the rivaling brands have brought against one another.

In a statement to Fast Company, a Shein spokesperson said:

“At Shein, customer safety is our top priority and we are investing millions of dollars to strengthen our compliance programs. In the last year SHEIN has spent over $10 million building a strong global compliance function and developing partnerships with internationally renowned testing agencies such as Intertek, SGS, BV, and TUV, to further enhance our safety practices. Earlier this year, it was also announced that an additional $50 million dollars will be dedicated to fortifying our Global Compliance Center and initiatives to ensure strict adherence to our rigorous product safety standards and full compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Our global team, including more than 1,000 U.S. employees, remains steadfast in its commitment to quality and safety for our customers, and we resolutely support the Commission’s mandate.”

“At Shein, customer safety is our top priority and we are investing millions of dollars to strengthen our compliance programs. In the last year SHEIN has spent over $10 million building a strong global compliance function and developing partnerships with internationally renowned testing agencies such as Intertek, SGS, BV, and TUV, to further enhance our safety practices. Earlier this year, it was also announced that an additional $50 million dollars will be dedicated to fortifying our Global Compliance Center and initiatives to ensure strict adherence to our rigorous product safety standards and full compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Our global team, including more than 1,000 U.S. employees, remains steadfast in its commitment to quality and safety for our customers, and we resolutely support the Commission’s mandate.”

Temu did not immediately respond to an email from Fast Company. However, Temu echoed the sentiment in a statement to CNN and said it “requires all sellers on our platform to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including those related to product safety.”