Wprowadzenie
In the period 04.05.2026 - 10.05.2026, Polish supervisory authorities published 8 safety alerts concerning products on the national market, including GIS food alerts, GIF notices on a pain-relief medicine and UOKiK warnings and Safety Gate notifications related to toys and electrical equipment. The most serious hazards this week concerned the youngest consumers: excessively loud toys, the presence of harmful phthalates, choking and suffocation risks, as well as a dangerous LED lighting chain that may cause electric shock.
According to UOKiK, Safety Gate notifications reveal serious non-compliance of several toys with the requirements of Directive 2009/48/EC. In line with a GIS alert of 5 May 2026, two batches of Makar shelled peanuts sold in Auchan were also challenged, directly affecting food safety. At the same time, the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate (GIF) issued a GIF notice on suspension of the pain-relief patch Dolofest due to doubts about sachet tightness. Below we present a detailed summary of these decisions to help consumers identify risky products and take appropriate protective action.
Wycofania z obrotu
| Product | Store | Decision type | Hazard | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sternhoff LED lighting chain for interconnection | online sales | Safety Gate notification | Risk of electric shock | High |
| Plastic toy „Sheng Er Na”, cow-shaped, battery operated | no data | Safety Gate notification | Excessive noise level, risk of hearing damage | High |
| Plastic ball „Pegaz Toys” with detachable pendant | no data | Safety Gate notification | Excess levels of DIBP and DBP phthalates | High |
| „Midex” jumping rope toy with counter | no data | Safety Gate notification | High DBP phthalate content | High |
| Push-along toy with plastic ball | no data | Safety Gate notification | Small part and thin film – choking and suffocation risk | High |
| Natural shelled peanuts 1 kg Makar (batch B186 0512) | Auchan | GIS food alert | Suspected spoilage – altered smell and taste | Medium |
| Natural shelled peanuts 1 kg Makar (batch B186 1901) | Auchan | GIS food alert | Suspected spoilage – altered smell and taste | Medium |
Komunikaty i wstrzymania
| Product | Store | Decision type | Hazard | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolofest 180 mg, medicated patch | pharmacies and wholesalers | Marketing suspension | Insufficient sachet tightness, reduced medicine quality | Medium |
Wyróżnione komunikaty
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
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: no data | EAN: 5901924046776 | Manufacturer: sheng er na
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 and developmental complications.
Store: no data | EAN: 5905247784698 | Manufacturer: Pegaz Toys
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: reproductive system damage and long-term health complications.
Store: no data | EAN: 5900733637694 | Manufacturer: Midex
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: no data | EAN: 5904888000730 | Manufacturer: no data
Analiza zagrożeń zdrowotnych
Excessively loud toys, such as the plastic cow „Sheng Er Na” generating up to 84.8 dB, can damage the delicate structures of a child's inner ear. Long-term exposure to noise above 80 dB is associated with a risk of permanent hearing loss, tinnitus and sound hypersensitivity. As UOKiK stresses, parents often do not realise that sound toys used close to the ear can be as harmful as loud concerts.
Products containing phthalates (DBP, DIBP), such as the „Pegaz Toys” ball or the „Midex” skipping rope, pose long-term risks. Phthalates are plasticisers classified in the EU as toxic to reproduction. Under the REACH Regulation, their content in toy parts that can be sucked or chewed may not exceed 0.1% by weight. In the notified cases, levels reached up to 9.7%, meaning a multiple exceedance of legal limits.
Mechanical hazards in toys – small detachable parts and overly thin plastic packaging – increase the risk of choking and suffocation, especially in children under three years of age. According to standard EN 71-1, toys for the youngest children must not contain small parts that fit entirely into a test cylinder, and plastic bags must meet minimum thickness requirements to reduce adhesion to the face.
In the case of the Sternhoff LED lighting chain, the hazard is electric shock. Inadequate insulation, undersized wire cross-section and faulty socket design can lead to contact with live parts, resulting in serious burns, heart rhythm disturbances or, in extreme cases, cardiac arrest. Such products fall under the Low Voltage Directive and standards from the EN 60598 series.
GIS pointed to altered organoleptic properties of Makar peanuts, which may indicate spoilage. Consumption of such food can lead to gastrointestinal complaints, vomiting or diarrhoea. In extreme cases, where mould toxins are present, long-term food safety and consumer health may also be at risk.
GIF, in turn, identified insufficient tightness of sachets containing the Dolofest patch. This defect may affect the stability of the active substance and treatment efficacy, although the GIF notice does not automatically mean that the product becomes dangerous for patients. It is, however, a signal that additional quality assessment of the batch and strict supply chain control are necessary.
GIS warns consumers not to eat Makar peanuts from batches B186 0512 and B186 1901 because of suspected product spoilage.
UOKiK underlines that excessively loud toys can cause permanent hearing damage in young children.
GIF reminds that suspension of a medicine in the supply chain does not automatically mean that patients must immediately discard their packs.
Sklepy i instytucje objęte komunikatami
Among the cases discussed, the only retail chain mentioned by name is Auchan, affected by two GIS alerts covering natural shelled peanuts Makar (batches B186 0512 and B186 1901). According to GIS communications, the store is obliged to inform customers about the action and remove the challenged product from shelves, which is essential for food safety.
The toys and the Sternhoff LED chain were identified through the EU Safety Gate system and communicated in Poland by UOKiK as warnings about serious risks to children and home users. Although specific stores were not named, many of these products were sold online, which means wide distribution and the need for consumers to check their own purchases against the product names, EAN codes and batch numbers provided.
Finally, the GIF notice concerning Dolofest 180 mg (batch 250201, EAN 05907572580983) applies to wholesalers and pharmacies, which must comply with the marketing suspension decision. Consumers should follow GIF notices and, in case of doubt, ask pharmacists about the current status of the medicine.
Porady dla konsumentów
Anyone who recognises any of the products described should first stop using it. In the case of toys and the Sternhoff LED chain, which are subject to withdrawal from the market, they should no longer be used or resold. It is advisable to contact the store or distributor to arrange a refund or replacement, even if the product was purchased online.
For Makar peanuts from batches B186 0512 (best before 11.2026) and B186 1901 (12.2026), GIS recommends not consuming them. The product can be returned to the Auchan store where it was bought, together with the receipt or – if that is unavailable – by referring to the official GIS alert. People who have already eaten the peanuts and are experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms should contact their family doctor; in severe cases, urgent medical advice is necessary.
Patients using Dolofest should not discontinue therapy on their own without consulting a doctor or pharmacist. GIF notices on marketing suspension concern primarily actions at wholesaler and pharmacy level, not immediate disposal of the medicine by patients. In case of doubt, it is worth asking a pharmacist to propose a safe alternative.
Parents should pay particular attention to toys purchased at markets and in online shops. If a toy is very loud, has a strong chemical smell, contains small, easily detachable parts or is packed in a very thin plastic bag without proper warnings, it should be treated as potentially unsafe and its return should be considered. Protecting food safety and everyday product safety starts with informed purchasing decisions.
Kontekst prawny
The consumer protection system in Poland relies on cooperation between several authorities. GIS is responsible for food safety and publishes public food alerts for products posing health risks. UOKiK, in cooperation with the EU Safety Gate system, publishes warnings about dangerous toys, electrical equipment and other consumer products. GIF oversees the quality and safety of medicinal products, issuing notices on withdrawal from the market, marketing suspension or prohibition of placing specific batches on the market.
The legal basis for food-related actions includes, among others, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 laying down the general principles of food law in the EU, under which unsafe food must not be placed on the market. For toys, Directive 2009/48/EC and related EN standards apply, regulating aspects such as noise, phthalate content and mechanical safety. Medicinal products are governed by the Pharmaceutical Law, which specifies when GIF may order withdrawal or suspension of a batch.
Consumers have the right to return unsafe products and to receive clear information about associated risks. If a shop refuses to accept a product covered by an official GIS, UOKiK or GIF notice, it is worth contacting a local consumer ombudsman or sanitary inspection office. The system of public warnings – from GIS alerts to GIF notices – is designed not only to remove risky items from the market but also to provide transparent information so that everyone can better protect their own health and the safety of products used at home.