Four products removed from Amazon over choking, fire and electrocution risks

Four products have been removed from Amazon over choking, fire and electrocution risks.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards has ordered the removal of four items from the retail giant following the identification of serious hazards to consumers.

The government safety body flagged products posing risks including suffocation, fire and electrocution.

Local Authority Trading Standards notified the OPSS about each of the dangerous goods, which have since been delisted from the online retail giant.

Among the recalled items are decorative water beads that could choke young children, two electrical charging devices with fire hazards and a cordless pressure washer presenting a significant electrocution danger.

Three of the four products originated from China, while one has an unknown country of manufacture.

The Chimoo Water Beads, sold in packs of 50,000 pieces, pose a substantial suffocation hazard for young children because they expand and completely obstruct a child's airway when swallowed after hydration.

The OPSS has issued guidance urging owners to cease using the product immediately and ensure it remains inaccessible to children.

Consumers who purchased the item should contact the distributor to seek redress.

The product fails to comply with the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.

A broader Product Safety Alert concerning water beads has been published by the OPSS, highlighting the wider dangers these items present to youngsters across the country.

The HUSGW Battery Charger, a black and red device manufactured in China, carries a significant fire risk due to inadequate insulation between its input and output circuits.

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Should the insulation fail during operation, the unit could overheat and ignite. Border officials rejected the import, and Amazon subsequently removed the listing.

Similarly, the GVKRLXZ AC Adapter presents a serious fire and explosion hazard stemming from an incorrectly rated fuse that may fail to prevent overheating.

This laptop-style charger, also of Chinese origin, lacks proper markings and its mains plug does not meet BS 1363 standards.

Authorities intercepted and destroyed the product at the border.

The fourth product withdrawn is a cordless pressure washer manufactured by Yongkang Champagne Industry and Trade Co. Ltd.

This black and red device poses a serious electrocution risk because its insulation may deteriorate during normal use.

In the event that the protective barrier fails while the washer is operational, metal components of the casing could become electrically live, delivering a shock to anyone touching them.

Investigators found the transformer to be poorly constructed, failing to meet minimum safety requirements for creepage and clearance distances.

The product breaches the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008.

Border authorities rejected the import, and Amazon has removed the listing from its platform.