Wiggles admit likely consumer law breach over Emma Bow headbands with button batteries | The Wiggles

Children’s entertainers called Wiggles have admitted to selling headbands to children without warning about the dangers of button batteries contained in the products.

More than 3,100 Emma Bow headbands, featuring four flashing lights powered by button batteries, were sold at live concerts, at retailers and online between June 2022 and March 2024.

A legally enforceable undertaking signed by Blue Wiggle Anthony Field outlined his admission that the Wiggles’ failure to include the headband safety warning was likely to breach Australian consumer law.

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Yellow and black Emma Bow headbands were recalled by manufacturer CA Australia in August 2024 due to safety concerns for young children who could choke by swallowing small, shiny batteries.

In a statement on Tuesday, ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe said button batteries posed a significant risk to young children and mandatory standards were important in helping prevent injuries.

“Without a warning on the product, parents may not know it contains a button battery and may not understand the seriousness of the risk,” Lowe said.

“If swallowed, a button battery can get stuck in a child’s throat and cause serious injury or even death in as little as two hours.”

As part of co-operating with the ACCC’s investigation, the Wiggles have committed to producing an episode on the Wiggle Talk podcast discussing safety issues surrounding button batteries and children’s toys.

The manufacturer also promised to improve its compliance with consumer laws.

Researchers have previously found about 200 children Potential button battery injuries occur every year in Australia, with at least a dozen people suffering serious injuries.

Batteries have also been linked to the deaths of three children in Australia. according to the guard dogEmma Bow in events unrelated to headbands.

The security admission is the Wiggles’ latest legal trouble after being sued by former CEO Luke O’Neill.

The former boss took legal action in federal court in September, arguing that Field was dismissed by the group without reasonable cause after friends and family members complained about his hiring.

However, the Wiggles denied the allegations and claimed the former CEO was fired because his “overall performance was unsatisfactory” and the necessary trust in him was lost.

An agreement was reached between both parties in October. news.com.au reported.