During the period 04–10 May 2026, Polish supervisory authorities published 8 safety alerts concerning recalls from the market. According to notices by the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate (GIS), the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) and the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate (GIF), the recalled products include several popular toys, an LED lighting chain, a pain relief medicine and two batches of Makar shelled peanuts sold in Auchan stores.
The most serious hazards concern toys with excessive noise levels, high concentrations of harmful phthalates, and choking or suffocation risks. There is also a recall of an LED chain with inadequate insulation and a medicine with defective sachet tightness. In the area of food safety, GIS drew attention to peanuts with altered odour and taste, which may indicate spoilage and reduced product quality.
These recalled products should be removed from use by consumers as quickly as possible. The authorities stress that, for food, medicines and toys alike, protecting the health of children and adults has absolute priority, and GIS alerts together with UOKiK communications are key early‑warning tools.
At a glance
- In total, 8 products were recalled: 5 with high risk and 3 with medium risk.
- Most alerts concerned toys: excessive noise, phthalates, small parts and packaging film that is too thin.
- GIS issued alerts on two batches of Makar shelled peanuts from Auchan due to suspected spoilage.
- GIF announced the recall of Dolofest 180 mg medicated plasters because of defective sachet tightness.
- UOKiK oversees non‑food recalled products, including the unsafe Sternhoff LED lighting chain.
| Product | Store | Hazard | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sternhoff LED lighting chain for interconnection (SDH398) | online sales | Electric shock risk | High |
| Dolofest 180 mg medicated plasters (batch 250201) | pharmacies | Leaking sachets, reduced medicine quality | Medium |
| Plastic toy cow "Sheng Er Na", battery operated (X333–34) | not specified | Excessive sound level – hearing damage | High |
| Plastic ball "Pegaz Toys" with detachable pendant | not specified | Excess DIBP and DBP phthalates | High |
| Midex jumping rope toy with counter (D41960) | not specified | Excess DBP phthalate | High |
| Push‑along toy with plastic ball (NT4915) | not specified | Small parts & thin bag – choking risk | High |
| Natural shelled peanuts 1 kg Makar (B186 0512) | Auchan | Altered odour and taste – suspected spoilage | Medium |
| Natural shelled peanuts 1 kg Makar (B186 1901) | Auchan | Altered odour and taste – suspected spoilage | Medium |
Sternhoff LED lighting chain for interconnection
Hazard: The product has insufficient mechanical strength, an undersized cross-section of wires, and a socket design allowing single-pole insertion of plugs, creating a risk of contact with live parts and electric shock. Potential effects: electric shock.
Store: online sales | EAN: 5904347194598 | Manufacturer: Sternhoff | Batch: SDH398
Plastic toy "Sheng Er Na" cow-shaped, battery operated
Hazard: The sound pressure level produced by the toy is too high (up to 84.8 dB), which may lead to permanent or partial hearing loss in a child. Potential effects: hearing damage.
Store: not specified | EAN: 5901924046776 | Manufacturer: sheng er na | Batch: X333–34
Plastic ball "Pegaz Toys" with detachable pendant
Hazard: The plastic contains excessive levels of DIBP and DBP phthalates, which may harm children's health by damaging the reproductive system. Potential effects: damage to the reproductive system, developmental complications.
Store: not specified | EAN: 5905247784698 | Manufacturer: Pegaz Toys | Batch: not specified
Midex jumping rope toy with counter
Hazard: The plastic material of the toy contains an excessive concentration of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) up to 9.7% by weight, exceeding legal limits and potentially harming health, especially the reproductive system. Potential effects: damage to the reproductive system, long-term health complications.
Store: not specified | EAN: 5900733637694 | Manufacturer: Midex | Batch: D41960
Push-along toy with plastic ball
Hazard: The toy contains a small part (blue plastic ball) that can detach and pose a choking hazard to small children. The plastic bag packaging is too thin and may cause suffocation if placed over a child's head. Potential effects: choking or suffocation.
Store: not specified | EAN: 5904888000730 | Manufacturer: not specified | Batch: NT4915
Health hazard analysis
The Sternhoff LED lighting chain was recalled due to electric shock risk. Contact with live parts can cause burns, muscle contractions, cardiac arrhythmias and, in severe cases, cardiac arrest. Under the EU Low Voltage Directive (2014/35/EU), manufacturers must ensure sufficient insulation and mechanical robustness, which was not achieved here.
Overly loud toys such as the "Sheng Er Na" cow expose children to permanent hearing damage at sound levels above roughly 80 dB, especially with prolonged exposure close to the ear. Toys containing phthalates (the "Pegaz Toys" ball and the "Midex" skipping rope) exceed limits under the REACH regulation. DIBP and DBP are classified as toxic for reproduction, linked to impaired fertility and developmental disorders, and are strictly restricted in toys and childcare articles.
The push-along toy with a detachable ball breaches the EU Toy Safety Directive (2009/48/EC), as small parts can block a child’s airway, causing sudden choking. The thin plastic bag packaging further increases the suffocation risk if placed over the head.
For Dolofest 180 mg, GIF considered that leaking sachets may compromise the dose and stability of the active substance, making pain treatment less effective and potentially unsafe. The two batches of Makar shelled peanuts were flagged by GIS because altered odour and taste often signal spoilage, oxidation of fats or microbial growth, which can trigger gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
GIS advises consumers not to eat Makar peanuts from batches B186 0512 and B186 1901 and to return them to the place of purchase.
Stores affected by the recalls
In this reporting week, food-related alerts mainly concerned the Auchan retail chain. According to GIS, Natural shelled peanuts 1 kg Makar, batches B186 0512 (best before 11.2026) and B186 1901 (12.2026), were withdrawn from sale due to suspected spoilage. Stores were instructed to immediately remove these products from shelves and inform customers about the recall.
The toys and the LED lighting chain were distributed via unspecified retailers and online channels. As UOKiK explains, once notified of a recall, retailers and e-commerce platforms must block sales, withdraw products from warehouses and publish clear warnings for customers.
Consumers should therefore check batch numbers and EAN codes on products regardless of where they were purchased, as recalls apply to all points of sale, not only large national chains.
Consumer advice
If you own any of the products described above, first stop using them. Recalled electrical items and toys should be disconnected from power, removed from children’s reach and not repaired at home. For toys containing phthalates or posing choking hazards, it is advisable to prevent any further use permanently, for example after returning them if the retailer requires the product to be handed back.
Food products such as the recalled Makar peanuts should not be eaten, even if they appear normal. As a precaution for food safety, return the product to the store where it was purchased, ideally with a receipt. Auchan is obliged to accept returns and refund customers for the affected batches.
If you have used Dolofest from the defective batch 250201, GIF recommends returning the medicine to a pharmacy. Pharmacists should offer a safe alternative or a refund in line with national rules. If, after consuming the peanuts or using the medicine, you experience worrying symptoms such as stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, rash or worsening of pain, contact your GP or an out-of-hours medical service.
For toys, UOKiK stresses that products with excessive phthalate content or small detachable parts should not be given to children at all. Consumers can request a refund or replacement with a safe product from the retailer. Keeping proof of purchase makes this easier, but in official recalls, shops are often expected to help even when the receipt is missing.
GIF reminds patients that medicines with a confirmed quality defect should always be returned to a pharmacy, even if no problems were noticed during use.
Regulatory context
The recall process in Poland is based on both EU and national law. In the field of food safety, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 is fundamental: it obliges food business operators to withdraw any food that may be unsafe for health. GIS coordinates the national rapid alert system and publishes GIS alerts, which are then implemented by retailers and producers.
For medicines, the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate acts under the Pharmaceutical Law and can order suspension or recall of a batch where a quality defect or risk to patients is identified. Toys and electrical equipment are regulated mainly by the Toy Safety Directive (2009/48/EC) and the Low Voltage Directive (2014/35/EU), which are transposed into Polish law and enforced by UOKiK and specialised inspectorates.
Consumers have a right to safe products and to full information about risks. Recalled products must be clearly identified in retailer communications, and sellers may not shift responsibility onto customers. If in doubt, consumers can use UOKiK’s consumer helpline or contact the relevant sanitary inspectorate, helping to strengthen the overall effectiveness of the safety surveillance system.