Saturday Hashtag: #ToxicProductRisingTide
Chinese E-Commerce Giants Are Flooding the US Market With Toxic Products
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Shein and Temu have become major players in global e-commerce, especially in the US, thriving even under the prospect of Trump-era tariffs.
While they offer cheap, trendy products, investigations have revealed toxic chemicals in many of their goods. These dangerous items are now making their way to American platforms, driven by a lack of transparency and oversight.
Shein’s rise is built on deep discounts and the ability to quickly produce trendy, on-demand fast fashion that taps into current trends. Despite a $10 billion dip in value, Shein remains a dominant force in the industry, valued at $50 billion as of 2025.
Temu, launched in 2022 by Pinduoduo and owned by China’s richest man, Colin Huang, has captured 17 percent of the US discount market with low-priced products and a group-buying model that boosts repeat sales. The platform has also directly aligned its interests with China’s Communist Party to avoid scrutiny. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Huang and his company are a national security threat.
Shein and Temu have kept prices low by exploiting trade loopholes and sourcing from countries with weaker environmental regulations. The US De Minimis Law, which allows shipments under $800 to bypass tariffs, has helped reduce costs, though this loophole is closing. Additionally, these platforms source products from countries with lax manufacturing standards, further cutting production costs but often at the expense of worker safety and product quality.
Hazardous Items Spread to US E-Commerce Sites
The risk of toxic goods extends far beyond Shein and Temu, with hazardous products selling on Facebook and Amazon’s third-party marketplace. These platforms often obscure or mislead shoppers about the true manufacturing origins, leaving consumers unaware of crucial safety standards.
According to EPA studies, overseas sellers — operating with minimal regulation and oversight — are offering a wide range of toxic items, including beauty products, household Items, food storage containers, health supplements, and children’s Items. This lack of accountability makes it alarmingly easy for dangerous goods to reach unsuspecting consumers.
Tech Solutions: Overhyped and Possibly Dangerous
Technology is touted as a tool to combat the spread of dangerous products, but its actual effectiveness is highly debatable and it comes with significant risks.
Blockchain promises to track products from production to sale, yet its use remains largely experimental, and its integrity can be compromised. AI, on the other hand, may help identify risky products, but it’s prone to manipulation and can miss critical details leading to harmful consequences. Digital safety badges may boost confidence, but they’re typically just marketing tools, not reliable indicators of product safety.
The Hidden Health Risks of Cheap Goods
While these two companies thrive on low prices, international and US investigations have revealed serious safety concerns. A South Korean study of 144 items found high levels of phthalates, lead, cadmium, and formaldehyde in their products, including clothing and toys, posing significant health risks.
Many products contain toxic chemicals, which pose a particular danger to children, who are more likely to be exposed. Chemicals like phthalates, lead, and cadmium can accumulate in the body over time, leading to serious long-term health issues, including developmental delays, organ damage, and even cancer.
E-Commerce Protections
With 273 million online shoppers in the US, the Biden administration signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 to promote greater e-commerce transparency. While digital tools are available to help consumers, and states like Washington and Virginia are pushing for stricter safety standards, many other states have yet to take significant action.
It is crucial for shoppers to prioritize reputable brands that adhere to safety protocols and undergo regular testing.
As these bargain platforms expand, stricter regulations are essential to protect consumers. Shoppers should stay alert to the long-term health risks of chasing low-cost deals and hold platforms accountable when they endanger consumer safety.
Challenges to Protect Consumers in a Rapidly Changing E-Commerce Landscape
From the Consumer Federation of America: “On November 6, 2024, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) approved an Operating Plan for Fiscal Year 2025, which outlines the agency’s strategic priorities and resource allocations for the year ahead. The plan comes at a time when the agency is grappling with significant budgetary constraints and staff shortages, and CPSC operating with nine percent fewer staff than the previous year. Resource limitations have made it increasingly difficult for the CPSC to address both well-known and emerging consumer safety threats. … This blog post explores the broader implications of CPSC’s Operating Plan for product safety, particularly within the context of online marketplaces and the agency’s limited resources.”
EU Cracks Down on Temu and Shein: Compliance With DSA Under Scrutiny
The author writes, “The European Commission has launched a decisive move against popular Chinese online marketplaces Temu and Shein, demanding detailed explanations of their adherence to the Digital Services Act (DSA). This action follows a complaint from consumer organizations and marks a significant step in the EU’s efforts to regulate digital platforms and protect consumers from deceptive practices and illegal products.”
Common US Consumer Products Release Toxic Compounds, New Research Shows
From The Guardian: “Some of the most common consumer products probably release 5,000 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in American homes annually, new research on the dangerous class of chemicals finds. The research, which analyzed ingredient lists across dozens of product categories, found the most concerning levels in general purpose cleaners, art supplies and laundry detergents, while the individual product that emitted the most VOCs was mothballs.”
Why Some Experts Warn Against Using Children’s Products Sold On Temu
The author writes, “This July, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall of 45,300 pairs of children’s pajamas sold exclusively on Temu between October 2022 and May 2024, warning they pose a burn risk to children.”
Exposure to Toxic Chemicals in Consumer Products in the United States
The author writes, “Many of the consumer products sold in the United States contain toxic chemicals. This is due to a lack of testing and regulation, lack of knowledge of consumers, government-protected trade secrets, marketing and PR tactics, and a desire for cost efficiency and product effectiveness. Because of this, many Americans are frequently and unknowingly exposed to toxic chemicals that have been shown to cause various health issues such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, birth defects, infertility, and hormone imbalances, among other issues.”
Counterfeit Goods: A Bargain or a Costly Mistake?
From the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: “The production and sale of counterfeit goods is a global, multi-billion dollar problem and one that has serious economic and health ramifications for Governments, businesses and consumers. Counterfeiting is everywhere — it can affect what we eat, what we watch, what medicines we take and what we wear — and all too often the link between fake goods and transnational organized crime is overlooked in the search for knock-offs at bargain-basement prices.”
US Regulators Want to Investigate Shein and Temu Over ‘Deadly’ Baby Products
The author writes, “Shein and Temu, two Chinese low-cost e-commerce websites, are the target of a proposed investigation by the United States government for selling ‘deadly baby and toddler products.’”
Looking Beyond TikTok: The Risks of Temu
From the Center for Strategic & International Studies: “The rapid proliferation of Chinese-owned and -operated applications (‘apps’) such as TikTok have introduced new risks and exposed existing vulnerabilities into the regulatory, information security, and legal frameworks of the United States. While the social media juggernaut that is TikTok has received the lion’s share of attention, and understandably so, it is the tip of a much broader iceberg that requires greater attention and policy action from the federal government.”
