Global Product Safety Alert

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, confirmed that the popular children's entertainment group, The Wiggles, admitted to likely breaching Australian consumer law by selling over 3,100 "Emma Bow" headbands without adequate safety warnings. The product, sold between June 2022 and March 2024 at concerts, online, and in retail stores, contains four button batteries that power flashing lights. The manufacturer, CA Australia, initiated a recall in August 2024 due to fears that young children could access and ingest the small, easily swallowable batteries.

The Dangers of Button Batteries

Button batteries, often found in toys, remote controls, and other household electronics, pose a severe and life-threatening risk to children. If swallowed, a battery can get lodged in the throat and, through a reaction with saliva, create an electrical current that generates caustic soda. This can cause catastrophic internal burns, severe bleeding, and even death in as little as two hours. Australian authorities have linked button batteries to the deaths of three children and estimate that around 20 children per week are taken to emergency departments after swallowing or inserting them. Symptoms of ingestion can be non-specific, including drooling, coughing, vomiting, and chest pain, making diagnosis difficult without awareness.

Kenyan Consumer Protection Framework

While there is no evidence that the recalled Wiggles headbands were sold directly in Kenya, the incident serves as a crucial cautionary tale for the local market. Kenya has established a comprehensive legal and institutional framework to protect consumers from unsafe products. Article 46 of the Constitution of Kenya (2010) guarantees every citizen the right to goods of reasonable quality and the protection of their health and safety.

This constitutional right is enforced through several key bodies. The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), established under the Standards Act, is responsible for setting and enforcing quality and safety standards for all goods sold in the country, including toys. All toys imported into Kenya must receive a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) through a Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity (PVoC) program, ensuring they meet KEBS standards before entering the country.

The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK), under the Competition Act, investigates products that fail to meet safety standards and can compel businesses to recall unsafe goods, issue public warnings, and compensate consumers. The Consumer Protection Act (2012) further empowers consumers by prohibiting misleading representations about a product's safety and quality, and provides a legal basis for redress, including refunds, replacements, or repairs for defective items.

Guidance for Kenyan Parents and Guardians

Despite these regulations, the risk of non-compliant products entering the market remains. Local news outlets have previously raised alarms over toxic chemicals found in toys sold in informal markets. Experts advise parents to exercise vigilance when purchasing toys, especially those containing batteries.

Key recommendations for parents include:

• Inspect Toys: Check for secure battery compartments that require a tool (like a screwdriver) to open, a standard feature in well-made toys.
• Check for Warnings: Look for clear labels and warnings about the presence of button batteries and the associated dangers.
• Supervise Children: Always supervise young children during play, especially with electronic toys.
• Secure and Dispose of Batteries Safely: Keep new and used batteries out of children's reach. Place non-conductive tape over used batteries before disposal to reduce risks.
• Act Immediately: If you suspect a child has swallowed a battery, do not induce vomiting. Seek immediate medical attention at the nearest hospital emergency room.

Kenyan consumers who encounter toys they believe are unsafe can report them to the Competition Authority of Kenya for investigation.

Broader Implications

The Wiggles' case in Australia has led to the company committing to produce a podcast episode to raise awareness about button battery dangers as part of a court-enforceable undertaking with the ACCC. This highlights a growing global trend towards stricter regulation and corporate accountability for child product safety. For Kenya and the East Africa region, it underscores the importance of robust market surveillance by KEBS and CAK to ensure imported and locally sold toys comply with safety standards designed to prevent tragic and avoidable injuries to children.