Popular online fast fashion retailer Shein has been flagged by authorities in Seoul, South Korea, for having high levels of toxic chemicals in a large number of its products, including children's items.
In its latest round of inspections, Seoul authorities inspected 93 of Shein's products and discovered that half of them are made with toxic chemicals. Inspectors also found that eight of Shein's products, including children's shoes, a belt and leather bags, have high amounts of phthalates, which are man-made chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin and can disrupt hormones and potentially cause cancer.
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Seoul authorities say one pair of shoes sold by Shein contained 428 times the permitted levels of phthalates, and three bags had amounts 153 times the limit.
Seoul city official Park Sang-jin revealed to AFP that they have asked Shein to remove these products from sale.
In response to the findings, Shein said in a statement emailed to TheStreet that it takes product safety “very seriously.”
“Upon learning of any claims against our products, we immediately removed the products from our site as a precaution while we conduct our investigations,” Shein said in the statement. “If non-compliance is verified, we will not hesitate to take appropriate follow-up actions with the supplier of said product.”
This is not the first time Shein has been found to have toxic chemicals in its products. In 2022, a report of Greenpeace revealed that seven of the 47 Shein products it tested had dangerous chemicals that violated EU regulatory limits. One of the products included “a girl's dress” that contained formaldehyde, which is a colorless and highly toxic flammable gas. It can also irritate the eyes, nose and throat and cause cancer at high exposure levels.
“The findings, which include very high levels of phthalates in shoes and formaldehyde in a girl's dress, demonstrate, according to Greenpeace Germany, SHEIN's negligent attitude towards the environmental and human health risks associated with the use of chemicals. dangerous, for the sake of profit. ”the report reads. “Worse still, the report concludes that the company, based in Nanjing, China, is violating EU environmental rules on chemicals and putting the health of consumers and workers at suppliers who make the products at risk.” .
Shein is currently seeking an initial public offering in the United States. In November last year, she quietly filed for an initial public offering with a reported valuation of around $66 billion.
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