The Wiggles 'likely breached' consumer law with sale of Emma Bow headbands, watchdog says
Emma Bow headbands were sold without mandatory safety warnings about button batteries. (Supplied: The Wiggles)
In short:
The Wiggles "likely breached" consumer law by selling headbands without mandatory safety warnings, Australia's consumer watchdog says.
The headbands were sold without the warnings required for products containing button batteries.
What's next?
The entertainers will produce an episode of their parenting podcast highlighting the product's recall and safety issues relating to button batteries.
Beloved children's entertainers The Wiggles "likely breached" consumer law by selling headbands without mandatory safety warnings, according to Australia's consumer watchdog.
The findings made public by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) stated the Emma Bow headbands lit up and were powered by button batteries.
The likely breach related to the fact that the headbands were sold by The Wiggles Holdings Pty Ltd without mandatory safety warnings required for products containing the batteries.
Button batteries are a swallowing hazard to young children and can be fatal.
The group sold about 3,164 headbands from June 2022 to March 2024.
The Wiggles have recalled the Emma Bow product for the entire period it was sold. (Supplied: ACCC)
It is understood a further 600 headbands were supplied to other third-party retailers by importer and distributor CA Australia.
In a statement to the ABC a media spokesperson for The Wiggles said the product was manufactured and supplied by a licensee before the current Information Standard was introduced in 2020 and came into force in 2022.
"Due to the COVID-19 pandemic cancellations, the licensee had a surplus of stock produced prior to 2020, and regrettably, it was not identified that these products no longer complied with updated labelling regulations," they said in a statement.
In cooperation with the ACCC, The Wiggles will produce an episode of their parenting podcast highlighting the product's recall and safety issues relating to button batteries.
The Wiggles supplied 3,164 of the headbands to consumers, the ACCC alleges. (Supplied: ACCC)
This was part of a "range of actions" the brand was taking in partnership with the ACCC.
"At The Wiggles, the safety and wellbeing of children and families is always our highest priority," the spokesperson added.
"We want every parent and carer to feel complete confidence in any product bearing The Wiggles name.
"The Wiggles are committed to ensuring that every product associated with our brand meets the highest standards of safety, quality and reliability.
"We will continue to take proactive steps to protect children and support Australian families in every way we can."
CA Australia has also provided a written commitment to the ACCC to improve its consumer law compliance.
ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe said the bow was "aimed for children's use" and sold on The Wiggles online store, at concerts, and by other physical retailers.
"Without a warning on the product, parents may not have known it contained button batteries and not understood the severity of the risk," she said in a statement.
The ACCC advised that those who still own the headband should refer to the recall notice for further information, including returns.
In May this year Hungry Jack's was fined $150,240 after the ACCC issued eight infringement notices for supplying a Garfield-themed toy that allegedly did not comply with button battery standards.