AK-Check: How Safe Are Halloween Costumes
For Halloween, eleven children's costume sets, including accessories, from online and physical stores were examined in the AK Check. Prices ranged from 8.16 to 43.95 euros. Three out of eleven tested products did not meet safety requirements, as they either exhibited problematic burning behavior or lacked warning labels. One costume should not be on the market at all due to a high level of harmful substances. Children's costumes are considered toys and must comply with the strict safety requirements of the Toy Regulation 2011.
Halloween Costumes in the AK Check: Fire Hazard and Harmful Substances
Candles often create a spooky Halloween atmosphere but also pose fire risks, especially with costumes. Safety is ensured when flames extinguish quickly and do not spread significantly. In the test, the masks "Zombie Clown" and "Zombie Skeleton" did not meet these criteria. Textiles must have a controlled flame spread rate; if this is too high, a fire hazard warning must be provided. A warning would have been appropriate for the Vampire costume and the Zombie Clown. The flame spread on the pants of the Zombie Deluxe costume was at the permissible limit. The testers also examined the presence of concerning chemical substances such as flame retardants in the materials. None of the costumes contained prohibited flame retardants. However, in the ghost costume, a mask was found to have such a high concentration of a banned plasticizer that its sale would not be allowed under current regulations.
AK Check: How to Recognize Safe Halloween Costumes
Make Halloween safe by checking Halloween costumes for their smell when purchasing: if they strongly smell of chemicals, you should not buy them. Plastic masks and joke teeth could contain harmful substances. Clean them with warm water and soap before first use and use them only briefly. Costumes should be washed before first use. If this is not possible, at least wear them over T-shirts and leggings to avoid direct skin contact. Additionally, pay attention to the fire hazard. Children's costumes should always be kept away from open flames such as candles or tea lights. Adults have the responsibility to choose flame-resistant materials and supervise children accordingly.
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