The Wiggles have admitted they likely breached consumer law by selling light-up headbands to fans that failed to carry mandatory warning labels they contained batteries that pose a safety risk to children.
The children’s entertainment group sold 3164 of its yellow and black Emma Bow headbands featuring four lights powered by potentially hazardous button batteries at concerts, in stores and online between June 2022 and March 2024.
The batteries are small flat discs that have a history of causing death and serious injury in children who unwittingly swallow them. They can burn through the oesophagus within hours of being ingested.
The Wiggles company sold the Emma Bow headband between November 2015 and March 2024.Credit: ACCC
On Tuesday, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) – which had been investigating the band – issued a statement saying that The Wiggles Holdings (the group’s company) had provided it a court-enforceable admitting to likely breaching the law in selling the headbands.
The Wiggles sold the Emma Bow headband between November 2015 and March 2024, but its alleged breach of consumer law only occurred from June 2022 when button battery information standards came into force. All headbands sold since 2015 were recalled in August 2024.
The band has now vowed to implement a compliance program. This includes committing to produce an episode of its Wiggle Talk – A Podcast For Parents within the next six months to help raise awareness of the safety issue by discussing the product recall and the potential hazards surrounding button batteries and children’s toys.