Party balloons containing harmful levels of cancer-causing substances have been discovered for sale on popular online platforms such as Debenhams and eBay. Investigations conducted by consumer group Which? revealed that certain third-party sellers were marketing balloons with up to six times the legal limits of toxic chemicals, posing serious health risks.
Which? procured 21 packs of latex balloons from various online marketplaces and subjected them to British standard tests to assess the presence of carcinogenic compounds. Shockingly, eight out of the 21 packs exceeded the UK’s allowable threshold for potentially cancer-causing substances, indicating unlawful sale practices.
Among the concerning findings were balloons sold on AliExpress, eBay, and The Range (also retailed at Wilko), which contained significantly elevated levels of nitrosamines – chemicals classified as likely carcinogens. Notably, a balloon from Debenhams was found to contain more than double the permissible quantity of nitrosatable substances, which can transform into nitrosamines upon contact with saliva.
In a distressing incident, Trevor and Lucille Mathers purchased balloons from Amazon’s Marketplace in March 2024 for their child’s birthday, only to later receive a notification disclosing that the balloons contained at least 25 times the legal limit of potentially carcinogenic substances. This situation raised concerns about the health risks posed by such contaminated balloons, particularly to children, whose developing bodies are more vulnerable to the detrimental effects of these chemicals.
Which? emphasized the importance of purchasing balloons displaying the CE/UKCA mark, indicating compliance with safety standards. The organization advised using a pump for inflation to avoid direct contact with the mouth and recommended adult supervision for children under eight years old when handling balloons.
While the companies involved in the investigations stressed their commitment to customer safety, they took immediate actions upon being notified of the hazardous balloons. AliExpress, Debenhams, eBay, and Shein promptly removed the flagged products from their platforms as a precautionary measure.
In response to the safety concerns raised, Sue Davies, head of consumer protection policy at Which?, condemned the sale of carcinogen-laden balloons, emphasizing the need for stringent safety checks to prevent such health hazards from reaching consumers.
Wilko, after conducting independent safety tests, voluntarily recalled the balloons from their stores and website as a precautionary step, underscoring their dedication to customer safety and commitment to ensuring product quality.