TEMU and TikTok shoppers have been warned that electric heaters for sale on both platforms can be significant fire hazards.
According to an investigation by Which?, several electric heaters being promoted by influencers to millions “could explode, cause electric shocks or start house fires.”
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The consumer watchdog bought and tested eight electric heaters from both Temu and Tiktok – where prices started from as little as £7.20 – and found six of them to be unsafe.
Just one of the eight heaters is safe to use in the home and legal to be sold in the UK.
Some 27 listings for these products have since been removed by the marketplaces.
However, research suggests that thousands of these dangerous heaters had already been sold.
Do you own a dangerous electric heater?
Temu and TikTok shoppers that have recently bought electric heaters on the platforms have been encouraged to check their purchase history for dangerous models:
- X7 Portable space heater, £14.99 on Temu
- ML-9001 electric heater £19.47 on Temu
- XH-1201 1200W portable electric heater, £7.20 on TikTok
- NFJ004 Portable electric heater, £15.99 on TikTok
- Elpine Halogen 31227c, £17.95 on TikTok
- Kingavon FH204, £15.29 on TikTok
These aren’t the only dangerous heaters on the platforms, Which? warned.
The organisation has identified 34 listings for heaters on Temu and TikTok that were identical to those that failed safety tests.
It’s not the first time poor safety standards of gadgets have put bargain-hunters on Temu and Tiktok at risk.
A host of untested electrical items, including exploding hair curlers, have been found in the TikTok shop, The Sun revealed last month.
While Temu has been found to sell ‘road rage knives’ for less than a fiver, alongside a raft of other ‘unsafe and illegal’ items.
“Cheap electric heaters are a tempting purchase for consumers struggling during the cold winter months, but our latest tests have revealed that models sold on TikTok and Temu are a serious safety risk and must be avoided at all costs,” Sue Davies, Which? Head of Consumer Protection Policy, said in a statement.
“It’s vital that the government urgently gives greater legal responsibility to online marketplaces for unsafe products so that they are forced to take action to prevent dangerous products ending up in people’s homes.”
Following its latest investigation into the pair, Which? is calling for online marketplaces to be given more legal responsibility for unsafe and illegal products being sold to consumers.
In response to the investigation, Temu said: “We deeply regret any concern or inconvenience caused by the safety issues identified in four electric heaters on our platform.
“The safety of our customers is our highest priority, and we have taken immediate action to address this issue.
“We appreciate the feedback and oversight from entities like Which? as they are invaluable in helping us improve our quality assurance.”
A spokesperson for TikTok said: “The heaters have been removed for violating our policies on Electricals and Electronics.
“TikTok has policies and processes to protect customers and promote a trustworthy shopping experience.
“This includes policies on what can and can’t be sold, seller registration and verification requirements, and features like product reviews, reporting tools, and easy returns.”