Did you buy toys for grandkids from Big W?

If you bought presents for your grandkids from Big W this year, you may be alarmed to discover that the store has had the most product recalls for children’s products in Australia.

An analysis of product recall data by consumer advocate CHOICE has found Big W has had to recall 23 children’s products since 2015, more than double the recall rate of their competitor Kmart (nine recalls).

Target wasn’t far behind Big W, having recalled 17 children’s products.

“These products could be ticking time bombs,” says CHOICE editor Marg Rafferty.

“Product recalls from stores like Big W and Target are still just a band-aid solution to the core problem – it’s too easy to sell unsafe products in Australia.

“Generally, department stores and their manufacturers aren’t required by law to make sure their products are safe before sale and that’s disgraceful.”

Purveyor of quirky knick-knacks Daiso also made an appearance high on the list with 11 recalls, concerningly all for toys, presenting a range of choking and injury risks.

A 2019 CHOICE survey found 93 per cent of Australians incorrectly believe proactive product safety laws already exist.

“The product recall system in Australia is a perfect storm, especially when it comes to children’s products. We have very few mandatory safety standards in place. Most items in a store only have to be recalled if they’re later found to be unsafe rather than proactively checked before sale,” Ms Rafferty said.

“Australia needs a general safety provision so the onus is on retailers and manufacturers to sell safe products in the first place, not on families to track the hundreds of recalls that happen every year.”

What did you buy for the grandkids for Christmas this year?