Children's music group the Wiggles have admitted to selling headbands without warning about the dangers of button batteries, likely breaching Australian consumer law. More than 3,100 Emma Bow headbands, featuring four flashing lights powered by button batteries, were sold at concerts, retailers, and online between June 2022 and March 2024.
The yellow and black headbands were recalled in August 2024 by manufacturer CA Australia due to choking and ingestion risks for young children. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced on Tuesday that the Wiggles signed a legally enforceable undertaking, acknowledging the failure to include safety warnings.
ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe stated that button batteries pose significant risks to children, with ingestion potentially causing severe injuries or death within hours. As part of the undertaking, the Wiggles will produce a Wiggle Talk podcast episode on button battery safety.
Research indicates about 200 children are exposed to button battery injuries annually in Australia, with at least a dozen suffering severe harm. The batteries have been linked to three child deaths in unrelated incidents.
