Every few months, the media rediscovers something our industry has known for years: unsafe balloons are being sold on online marketplaces and by some retailers who aren’t doing their due diligence.

Is it disappointing? Yes.
Is it surprising? Not at all.

Those of us who’ve spent years investing in compliant, tested, fully traceable products have been raising this concern repeatedly. And the latest Which? report simply confirms it.

The Facts: 8 Out of 21 Balloon Packs Failed Safety Tests

Which? tested 21 packs of latex balloons from a range of major online marketplaces and retailers. Here’s what they found:

- 8 out of 21 packs contained levels of carcinogenic chemicals above the UK legal limit.

- 5 of those 8 failing packs didn’t have a UKCA/CE mark or even the most basic safety warnings on the packaging.

- And perhaps the most concerning detail for consumers:
A CE mark doesn’t guarantee safety - anyone can print one on a bag. Some failing products displayed marks despite not meeting legal requirements.

This is the exact issue reputable wholesalers have been trying to highlight for years:
A CE logo on marketplace packaging is virtually meaningless without verified test reports that only seem to be forthcoming from the major brands.

The Real Risk to you? The Headline, Not the Balloons

Let’s be honest: seeing “dangerous” and “balloons” in the same sentence can be damaging for our industry - not because the article is wrong, but because most consumers skim headlines and miss context.

Inside the balloon industry, this story is everywhere. It’s being discussed in groups, shared in chats, and analysed in professional circles. Even a few national outlets like The Independent and The Sun have picked it up and repeated the core findings.

But outside our community?
Most consumers haven’t seen it - and won’t.

That’s why panic achieves nothing.
This isn’t a public relations crisis unless we turn it into one.

Why This Is a Hot Topic - And Why We Shouldn’t Panic

The article simply reinforces what professionals have known all along:

- Some sellers on marketplaces cut corners.

- Some retailers fail to vet what they stock.

- Bargain-priced balloons often come at the cost of compliance.

And yet, every time a story like this breaks, it sends our industry scrambling - even though the general public barely registers it.

Let’s remember this:
Inside our bubble, it’s loud. Outside of it, it’s barely a whisper.

Here’s My Controversial Advice to Balloon Artists: Do Nothing.

Yes - really. Nothing.

Don’t post articles.
Don’t amplify the headline.
Don’t feed the algorithm that thrives on panic.

Why?

Because every time professionals boost a story with “dangerous balloons” in the title, or share a link to the article, we reinforce the idea that balloon safety is in question - even when the issue is clearly limited to unregulated, ultra-cheap products sold on certain online marketplaces and by retailers who didn’t check their supply chain.

And the more noise we make, the more we risk social media trolls, misinformation, and unnecessary doubt being cast on responsible balloon businesses.

What You Should Do Instead: Be Informed

If a customer asks, you should be ready:

- Visit BAPIA and NABAS for proper safety guidance.

- Stay educated so you can confidently answer questions.

- And if you can’t find an answer - ask. That’s what your membership is for.

Knowledge defuses panic. Silence avoids amplifying misinformation.
It’s a much smarter play.

Why Buying From Reputable Wholesalers Matters More Than Ever

This report highlights one thing crystal clearly:

You cannot rely on marketplace sellers or unvetted retailers to safeguard your business.

Here’s what reputable wholesalers - including us - do differently:

- We have verified test reports for every latex balloon brand we stock.

- We review them, validate them, and make them available to any customer who wants to see them.

- We trace our supply chain.

- We don’t gamble with compliance.

- We don’t rely on just CE logos that can be slapped onto packaging without oversight.

If anything, the Which? findings strengthen the case for choosing compliant, established suppliers, because the alternative isn’t worth the risk.

Where We Go From Here

This isn’t a crisis. It’s a reminder.

- Marketplaces and retailers must be held accountable.

- Balloon professionals must stay informed, not reactive.

- Consumers must understand that price alone is not a safety indicator.

- And our industry must continue to champion transparency and high standards.

We can’t stop unsafe products from appearing online.
But we can absolutely refuse to let them define our industry.