South Australia’s consumer watchdog has urged consumers to be vigilant when buying novelty items online, with potentially dangerous toys emerging on a number of popular websites.

Consumer and Business Services has been monitoring the sale of toys and novelty items in the leadup to Halloween and has identified products that may not meet Australia’s rigorous product safety standards.

Many of the products such as light up rings and mouthguards may include unsecured button batteries, which could present a choking hazard or – if ingested – result in potentially life-threatening internal burns and bleeding.

Concerningly, a number of light up rings that were subject of product safety warnings last year have also shown up on the market.

To report a potentially unsafe product, visit www.cbs.sa.gov.au/contact-us. Parents who suspect their child may have swallowed a button battery should contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26. If your child is having any difficulty breathing, contact 000 immediately.