The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC ) has stopped the sale of ‘dangerous amber teething jewellery in a number of Irish retailers’, over concerns about ‘serious’ choking and strangulation risks to babies and small children.
Coinciding with Child Safety Week (June 3 to 9, 2024 ) the CCPC are calling on all business to cease the selling or marketing of amber bead products as ‘teething aids’. Increasingly advertised and sold in Ireland as a ‘natural’ remedy for teething discomfort, amber bead teething aids come in the form of ‘necklaces, bracelets and anklets’.
Action
‘Acting on consumer reports’, the CCPC has revealed that its team of product safety experts have, in recent months, approached multiple distributors of the jewellery, requiring them to ‘remove all amber teething jewellery from sale, both instore and online’.
As part of the investigation, the CCPC says that it has ‘worked closely with the HSE to provide up-to-date information on amber teething jewellery to businesses’, and is working with other European product safety authorities to ‘track down companies supplying these products to Ireland’.
Dangerous jewellery ‘is not a remedy, it’s a risk’
Speaking of the dangers posed by the jewellery, Grainne Griffin, CCPC Director of Communications, said, “While teething can be a distressing and often exhausting time for parents and children alike, this dangerous jewellery is not a remedy, it’s a risk. Amber teething jewellery can come apart in a baby’s mouth causing the baby to choke or to swallow the beads. Also, as with any cords around a baby or child’s neck, there is a risk of strangulation.
“Thanks to the callers who reported these products to our helpline, we were able to step in and get those businesses to stop selling amber beads as teething aids for babies.
“We ask the public to remain vigilant and contact us if they see these teething beads, or other potential hazards, being advertised for use with children.”
Strangulation and choking hazard
“Not only is there a strangulation and choking risk, there is no convincing evidence to support claims that amber teething jewellery provides pain relief,” said Dr Abigail Collins, HSE National Clinical Lead, Child Health / Public Health.
“It can be upsetting for parents to see babies and young children in discomfort from teething. Depending on their age and stage, you can use teething rings, sugar-free teething gel or cold water and healthy foods to chew on.
“It’s vital to never put any kind of cord, string or chain around a baby’s neck, and to keep small objects like beads away from babies and small children.”
Warning to suppliers and retailers
Amber jewellery used for teething is very unsafe for any child under three years of age, and the CCPC will take appropriate action against suppliers and retailers who sell or advertise them as teething aids.
If you are aware of a business selling amber jewellery as teething aids, please contact the CCPC Consumer Helpline on 01 402 5555 from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, or email [email protected].
