BALLOONS containing up to six times the legal limit of carcinogens are available to UK consumers through leading online marketplaces, according to a new Which? investigation.
The consumer champion found that AliExpress, Debenhams, eBay, The Range (Wilko) and Shein have been allowing the sale of balloons which could cause cancer on their platforms.
This comes despite more than 100 balloon brands having been recalled or flagged in official product safety alerts in the last ten years.
Which? bought 21 packs of latex balloons from seven online marketplaces and stores and tested them to find out whether they were safe to be sold in the UK.
Eight out of the 21 balloons contained concentrations of potentially carcinogenic chemicals which were far above the UK’s permitted limit.
This means that the balloons were being sold illegally.
The tests revealed that one balloon from AliExpress contained more than six times the legally permitted level of nitrosamines – a type of chemicals classed as probable carcinogens.
An eBay balloon and one from The Range (also available at Wilko) were found to contain more than four times the safe level of nitrosamines.
Wilko said that it independently tested the products in June 2025 and found them to be safe.
“But, as customer safety remains our top priority, we have recalled the balloons from our stores and website as a precautionary measure while we undertake further testing to verify the suitability of these items,” a spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, a balloon bought from Debenhams was found to contain more than twice the legal amount of nitrosatable substances.
These are chemicals that can turn into nitrosamines when they mix with saliva.
The consumer champion stated that consumer testimonies suggested that the investigation “may only be the tip of the iceberg for dangerous balloons sold on online marketplaces”.
Trevor and Lucille Mathers bought balloons from Amazon Marketplace for their child’s birthday back in March 2024.
A year later, Amazon sent a notification warning them that the balloons they bought could cause cancer.
The balloons contained at least 25 times the legal limit of potentially carcinogenic chemicals.
The alert said that substances in the balloons may cause cancer through ingestion or dermal exposure and a child could be exposed when touching or putting them in their mouth.
Mr Mathers told Which?: “It wasn’t easy to read when you know your kids have been doing exactly that, months after Amazon knew the balloons were loaded with carcinogens but didn’t tell us”.
Amazon said it removed the balloons from sale immediately when notified.
Later, when it received a request to contact customers, this happened immediately.
Natalie Hitchins, who works for Which?, said that she had a similar experience.
She bought two packs of balloons from Shein for her son’s birthday.
She added: “The strong chemical smell from a pack of superhero themed balloons was really noticeable.
“As I blew them up my lips went numb, all I could taste were chemicals and I became dizzy.
“At that point my partner came into the room and was shocked by the chemical smell.”
Which? tested the same balloons and found them to contain more than twice the legally permitted level of nitrosamines.
The consumer champion adds that one seller on the Shein store reported 99,000 sales of balloons which have more than twice the legal limit of nitrosamines.
While another seller of carcinogenic balloons on eBay has 277 listings and claims to have sold more than 300,000 – but Which? flags that it hasn’t tested the remainder of these listings beyond those specified.
An eBay spokesperson said: “We prevent and remove unsafe product listings through seller compliance audits, block filter algorithms, AI-supported monitoring by in-house specialists, and close partnerships with regulators.
“These measures prevent millions of potentially unsafe products from being listed each year.
“In 2024, we proactively removed approximately 5.9 million potentially prohibited or counterfeit items.”
AliExpress, Debenhams and Shein have highlighted that they expect third-party sellers who list items on their marketplaces to comply with their obligations and relevant law.
All retailers mentioned have stated that they take product safety very seriously.
Which? tips on buying balloons
- Always look for the CE/UKCA mark on balloons or any product. While these marks can be counterfeited by unscrupulous manufacturers and traders, when used properly they show that the balloons meet all of the required health, safety, and environmental standards.
- Look for safety warnings when you buy balloons and be very wary of any that fail to carry them. Five of the eight that failed our safety tests were missing safety warnings and usage information. And look for well packaged products containing information about the manufacturer and the country of origin.
- If the balloons you buy are sent to you loose in a plain plastic bag with no certification markings or safety warnings, the best place for them is the bin.
