The Wiggles has admitted it likely breached the Australian Consumer Law after selling Emma Bow headbands without mandatory safety warnings required for products containing button batteries.
The children’s entertainment group has since committed to raising awareness of the dangers that button batteries can pose and has provided the ACCC with a court-enforceable undertaking
The Wiggles’ Emma Bow is a yellow and black headband featuring four lights powered by button batteries. Between June 2022 and March 2024, The Wiggles sold the headband without mandatory safety warnings that it contained button batteries and about the risks that button batteries pose.
According to The Wiggles, the headband failed to comply with the Button Battery Information Standard and has committed to implementing a consumer law compliance program within its organisation.
The importer and distributor of the headband, CA Australia Pty Ltd (CA Australia), has also provided a written commitment to the ACCC to improve its consumer law compliance.
“The Emma Bow was aimed for children’s use and was available at The Wiggles’ live concerts. It was also sold by other suppliers on The Wiggles online store and through various physical retail stores” ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe said.
“Without a warning on the product, parents may not have known it contained button batteries and not understood the severity of the risk.”
If swallowed, Lowe said a button battery can become stuck in a child’s throat and result in catastrophic injuries, and even death, in as little as two hours.
As part of its co-operation with the ACCC’s investigation, The Wiggles has committed to produce an episode of its podcast “Wiggle Talk – A Podcast For Parents”, which will refer to the recall of the Emma Bow headband, and discuss safety issues relating to button batteries and children’s toys to help raise awareness.
The Wiggles and CA Australia recalled the product and a recall notice was published on the ACCC website on August 1, 2024. Consumers who still have the Emma Bow should refer to the recall notice for further information, including to arrange for a return of the product.