Latest news with #RocioConcha
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The symbol you should always look for on kids' sunglasses
We all know the importance of protecting our children's eyes from the sun's rays, particularly on sunny days. But a disturbing new report has found some kids' sunglasses bought online do not meet UK safety standards. The investigation by consumer champion Which?, found that a third of children's sunglasses purchased from online marketplaces, including Amazon, eBay, AliExpress and Temu, were unsafe to wear. Researchers bought 20 pairs of sunglasses from six e-commerce marketplaces and put them through lab tests. They found that two pairs of the glasses let in too much ultraviolet light (UV), five pairs had different levels of UV protection on each lens, and all of the pairs were missing key information, labels and markings required for them to be legally sold in the UK. The unsafe sunglasses have since been removed from the online platforms. Calling for stricter safety regulations for online marketplaces under the government's Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, Which? director of policy and advocacy Rocio Concha said: "Our research shows many of these models are so ineffective as to be dangerous for children to wear and this is a consequence of online marketplaces having no real responsibility or incentive for taking safety seriously." So if you're buying sunglasses for your children, what should you be looking for to ensure they protect their eyes and meet UK safety standards? Denise Voon, clinical adviser at The College of Optometrists explains. "A lot of parents are aware that in order to protect their children's skin from the sun, they need to put sunscreen on, and it's exactly the same for eyes," Voon tells Yahoo UK. "Protecting your eyes with sunglasses is really important. Prolonged exposure, even to small amounts of UV, can cause eye conditions such as cataracts in later life, and there's emerging evidence to say that it can cause macular degeneration as well." Wearing sunglasses is particularly important for children, she adds. "Their pupils tend to be bigger and the lens inside their eyes tend to be clearer. So if an adult and a child stood outside, the child would probably get more UV to the back of their eyes." Sunlight can also cause short-term problems, such as temporary but painful burns to the surface of the eye, according to the NHS. Any sunglasses sold in the UK should have either a CE mark or a UKCA mark, some will have both. A CE mark shows they meet all the legal health and safety requirements to be sold in the European Union, while a UKCA mark shows they meet the requirements to be sold in the UK. These marks will be on the inside arms of the glasses. If sunglasses don't show one of these marks, Voon says to avoid them. Which? also advises looking for glasses with UV400 protection, which blocks out almost 100% of UV rays, and choosing category 3 lenses. Category 3 is the most common type in the UK and is for use on bright days. If you're going skiing, choose category 4. You'll find the category number marked on the inside of the sunglasses arm. "It is quite a common misconception that the darker the lenses, the more protection they offer but that's not actually true," explains Voon. "You can get all different colours and lighter and darker tints but, as long as they bear a safety mark, the best choice is whatever suits your child." Getting the fit of sunglasses right is particularly important for children as, if they're uncomfortable or too tight, they won't want to wear them. Voon also advises against sunglasses that are too big. "If they're too big, they'll let in a lot of sun round the sides," she says. "And if they're too wide and they slip down, they're not going to be helping much at all. "If your child is spending a lot of time outdoors, you might wish to consider a more wraparound-style frame that offers slightly more protection. But the important thing is getting something that your children want to wear and that fit." When it comes to choosing sunglasses for your child, Voon says an optometrists is a good place to start. "If you're worried about your children's eyes or want advice about sun protection or how sunglasses fit, an optometrist will be able to advise," she says. But she adds that you don't need to spend a lot of money to get appropriate glasses. "When we've been caught out, we've actually just bought sunglasses at seaside shops and as long as they have the appropriate markings, they don't have to be expensive." 4 tips to keep your baby cool and help them sleep in hot weather (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read) The 4 most important things to check on your sunscreen, according to a dermatologist (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read) 6 hidden health hazards to watch out for in your garden this summer (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)
South Wales Argus
5 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Third of sunglasses on Amazon and more pose child eye risk
Which? bought 20 pairs of sunglasses for children and found that the UV protection levels were 'dangerously low' for two of them, despite claims they offered full protection. One third of sunglasses sold on platforms like Amazon and eBay could damage child eysight The UV protection levels were found to be inconsistent in many of these specs (Image: Getty Images) Some sunglasses were also found to offer significantly different protection from one lens to the other. Several models including Cute Cat Kids' Sunglasses UV Protection (£1.59 from Amazon), Classic Vintage Holiday Sunglasses UV400 (£3.99 on eBay), Kids' Aviators (£1.16 from AliExpress), Kids £1 Sunglasses (from Temu) and red heart-shaped sunglasses (£5.28 from eBay) all made either misleading claims about their ability to block UV rays or had inconsistent UV filtering. All of the sunglasses tested were found to be missing key information, labels and markings, such as CE or UK Conformity Assessed markings (UKCA), which are required for them to be sold in the UK legally. Which? director of policy and advocacy Rocio Concha said: 'With summer holidays approaching, it is understandable that parents will want to buy their children sunglasses, and kids and parents alike might be tempted by some of the cheap and trendy options sold online. 'Our research shows many of these models are so ineffective as to be dangerous for children to wear and this is a consequence of online marketplaces having no real responsibility or incentive for taking safety seriously. 'The Government's Product Regulation and Metrology Bill must be strengthened to include legal responsibilities for online marketplaces to ensure the products they sell on their sites are safe, with heavy fines for those that fall short of the required standards.' An Amazon spokesman said: 'Safety is a top priority, and we require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws, regulations and Amazon policies. 'We continuously monitor our store and take action to maintain a safe selection for our customers, including removing non-compliant products and reaching out to sellers, manufacturers, and government agencies for additional information. 'The products in question have been removed." AliExpress also said it had removed the items that failed Which?'s tests, adding: 'AliExpress takes product safety very seriously and we have strict rules and policies in place to ensure a safe online shopping environment.' A spokeswoman for eBay said: 'Consumer safety is a top priority. We proactively keep our site safe and prevent prohibited listings through seller compliance audits, block filter algorithms for unsafe listings, and AI-supported monitoring by our team of in-house specialists. 'If we find an unsafe product, we remove it immediately and alert buyers, which is the exact approach we took on April 4 2025, before Which? contacted us.' Temu said: 'We take product safety very seriously. All three flagged listings have been removed from the platform pending further review.' Recommended Reading: TikTok said: 'The safety of our customers is of our utmost priority, and we have strict measures in place to ensure that our sellers comply with regulations and safety standards. 'These listings have been removed from our platform.' Shein said: 'We take product safety very seriously and are committed to offering safe and reliable products to its customers. We immediately removed the items from our site as a precaution while we investigate.'
Fashion United
5 days ago
- Business
- Fashion United
Third of children's sunglasses sold online pose 'serious risk'
A third of children's sunglasses bought from online marketplaces, including Amazon, AliExpress, Ebay, TikTok, Shein and Temu, do not provide the eye protection required and are unsafe to wear, according to a new investigation from Which?, a UK consumer champion that tests and reviews products. Which? researchers bought 20 pairs of kids' sunglasses from the six online marketplaces and found that UV protection levels were found to be dangerously low for two of the pairs tested, despite claiming to have full UV protection, while some offer significantly different protection from one lens to the other, when good sunglasses should offer the same protection in both lenses. It also noted that while several models look enticing, especially to children, with heart or cat-shaped lenses or vintage styles, they either made misleading claims about their ability to block UV rays or had inconsistent UV filtering. All of the sunglasses tested were found to be missing key information, labels and markings, such as CE or UK Conformity Assessed markings (UKCA), which are required for them to be sold in the UK legally. As a result, none of the 20 pairs of sunglasses bought from online marketplaces can be sold legally in the UK, said Which?, which has labelled the sunglasses as Don't Buys and would urge consumers to avoid them. Rocio Concha, director of policy and advocacy at Which?, said: 'With summer holidays approaching, it is understandable that parents will want to buy their children sunglasses, and kids and parents alike might be tempted by some of the cheap and trendy options sold online. 'Our research shows many of these models are so ineffective as to be dangerous for children to wear and this is a consequence of online marketplaces having no real responsibility or incentive for taking safety seriously. 'The government's Product Regulation and Metrology Bill must be strengthened to include legal responsibilities for online marketplaces to ensure the products they sell on their sites are safe, with heavy fines for those that fall short of the required standards.' In response to the research, an Amazon spokesperson added: 'Safety is a top a priority, and we require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws, regulations and Amazon policies. We continuously monitor our store and take action to maintain a safe selection for our customers, including removing non-compliant products and reaching out to sellers, manufacturers, and government agencies for additional information. 'If customers have concerns about an item they've purchased, we encourage them to contact our Customer Service directly so we can investigate and help resolve their issue. The products in questions have been removed.' AliExpress, Shein, Temu and TikTok told Which? that it had removed the items that failed the tests from its platforms, while Ebay stated it was 'proactively' preventing prohibited listings through seller compliance audits, block filter algorithms for unsafe listings, and AI-supported monitoring by our team of in-house specialists.
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
'Unsafe' sunglasses pulled from Amazon, eBay and Temu
An investigation looked at 20 pairs, and found problems with each of them A third of children's sunglasses purchased from popular online marketplaces such as Amazon, AliExpress, Ebay, and Temu have been deemed unsafe due to insufficient protection, according to an investigation by Which?. The consumer watchdog bought 20 pairs of children's sunglasses, discovering that two pairs had "dangerously low" UV protection levels, despite claims of full protection. Furthermore, some pairs offered significantly different protection between lenses. Several models, including Cute Cat Kids' Sunglasses UV Protection, Classic Vintage Holiday Sunglasses UV400, Kids' Aviators, Kids £1 Sunglasses, and red heart-shaped sunglasses, made misleading claims about their UV-blocking abilities or had inconsistent UV filtering. None of the tested sunglasses met UK legal requirements, lacking essential information, labels, and markings like CE or UKCA markings, rendering them unfit for sale in the UK. Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, said: "With summer holidays approaching, it is understandable that parents will want to buy their children sunglasses, and kids and parents alike might be tempted by some of the cheap and trendy options sold online. "Our research shows many of these models are so ineffective as to be dangerous for children to wear and this is a consequence of online marketplaces having no real responsibility or incentive for taking safety seriously. The Government's Product Regulation and Metrology Bill must be strengthened to include legal responsibilities for online marketplaces to ensure the products they sell on their sites are safe, with heavy fines for those that fall short of the required standards." A representative from Amazon responded: "Safety is a top priority, and we require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws, regulations and Amazon policies. We continuously monitor our store and take action to maintain a safe selection for our customers, including removing non-compliant products and reaching out to sellers, manufacturers, and government agencies for additional information." "The products in question have been removed." AliExpress also stated that it had taken down the items that did not pass Which?'s tests, and said: "AliExpress takes product safety very seriously and we have strict rules and policies in place to ensure a safe online shopping environment.". An eBay spokesperson said: "Consumer safety is a top priority. We proactively keep our site safe and prevent prohibited listings through seller compliance audits, block filter algorithms for unsafe listings, and AI-supported monitoring by our team of in-house specialists. If we find an unsafe product, we remove it immediately and alert buyers, which is the exact approach we took on April 4 2025, before Which? contacted us." Temu said: "We take product safety very seriously. All three flagged listings have been removed from the platform pending further review." A TikTok representative added: "The safety of our customers is of our utmost priority, and we have strict measures in place to ensure that our sellers comply with regulations and safety standards. These listings have been removed from our platform." Shein said: "We take product safety very seriously and are committed to offering safe and reliable products to its customers. We immediately removed the items from our site as a precaution while we investigate."
Powys County Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Third of sunglasses on Amazon and more pose child eye risk
One third of sunglasses sold on platforms like Amazon, eBay, AliExpress and Shein pose an eyesight risk to children, according to research carried out by a trusted consumer watchdog. Which? bought 20 pairs of sunglasses for children and found that the UV protection levels were 'dangerously low' for two of them, despite claims they offered full protection. One third of sunglasses sold on platforms like Amazon and eBay could damage child eysight Some sunglasses were also found to offer significantly different protection from one lens to the other. Several models including Cute Cat Kids' Sunglasses UV Protection (£1.59 from Amazon), Classic Vintage Holiday Sunglasses UV400 (£3.99 on eBay), Kids' Aviators (£1.16 from AliExpress), Kids £1 Sunglasses (from Temu) and red heart-shaped sunglasses (£5.28 from eBay) all made either misleading claims about their ability to block UV rays or had inconsistent UV filtering. All of the sunglasses tested were found to be missing key information, labels and markings, such as CE or UK Conformity Assessed markings (UKCA), which are required for them to be sold in the UK legally. Which? director of policy and advocacy Rocio Concha said: 'With summer holidays approaching, it is understandable that parents will want to buy their children sunglasses, and kids and parents alike might be tempted by some of the cheap and trendy options sold online. 'Our research shows many of these models are so ineffective as to be dangerous for children to wear and this is a consequence of online marketplaces having no real responsibility or incentive for taking safety seriously. 'The Government's Product Regulation and Metrology Bill must be strengthened to include legal responsibilities for online marketplaces to ensure the products they sell on their sites are safe, with heavy fines for those that fall short of the required standards.' An Amazon spokesman said: 'Safety is a top priority, and we require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws, regulations and Amazon policies. 'We continuously monitor our store and take action to maintain a safe selection for our customers, including removing non-compliant products and reaching out to sellers, manufacturers, and government agencies for additional information. 'The products in question have been removed." AliExpress also said it had removed the items that failed Which?'s tests, adding: 'AliExpress takes product safety very seriously and we have strict rules and policies in place to ensure a safe online shopping environment.' A spokeswoman for eBay said: 'Consumer safety is a top priority. We proactively keep our site safe and prevent prohibited listings through seller compliance audits, block filter algorithms for unsafe listings, and AI-supported monitoring by our team of in-house specialists. 'If we find an unsafe product, we remove it immediately and alert buyers, which is the exact approach we took on April 4 2025, before Which? contacted us.' Temu said: 'We take product safety very seriously. All three flagged listings have been removed from the platform pending further review.' TikTok said: 'The safety of our customers is of our utmost priority, and we have strict measures in place to ensure that our sellers comply with regulations and safety standards. 'These listings have been removed from our platform.'
