eBay shoppers warned as product poses ‘serious risk of electric shock, fire and explosion’ - ‘stop using immediately’

Before dining out, Britons should check the food hygiene ratings for their chosen establishment

Food Standards Agency
Susanna Siddell

By Susanna Siddell


Published: 13/05/2025

- 22:18

Britons are advised to stop using the product 'immediately' after the latest product safety reports

Britons have been informed that a product sold on eBay is unsafe to use.

Certain procedures have been followed to ensure that customers can no longer get their hands on the dangerous item. The listing has now been removed by the online marketplace.


Those who have purchased and received the products prior to this safety warning have been urged to stop using them immediately.

The affected item is a water immersion heater sold via eBay.

Product recall: water immersion heater

The affected item is a water immersion heater sold via eBay

The Office for Product Safety and Standards

Electrical appliances and equipment - Portable Immersion Heater sold via Amazon

eBay Item Number: 186341790238

Product packaging identifiers: ZL201520861011.9, A-103 GB4706.77-2008, GB4706.1-2005, 0668-3961177, 0668-3961188, AC220v.

Country of Origin: Unknown

Product Description: An orange portable immersion heater with a metal element guard, fitted with an orange power lead and an orange moulded 3-pin plug.

LATEST RECALLS

Anyone who purchased the product should contact the distributor they purchased it from to request redress.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards warned: “The product presents a serious risk of electric shock as a consumer can easily access live parts.

“If the equipment as supplied is connected to the mains power supply, the exposed gaps to the live parts are visible. If a consumer inserts something conductive into the live parts they could be electrocuted.

“The product also presents a risk of fire and explosion as the supplied travel adaptor is marked as being fitted with a 13A fuse.

eBay

Britons have been informed that a product sold on eBay is unsafe to use

GETTY

“Testing revealed that the adaptor and the 3-pin plug fitted to the equipment has no fuse to protect the equipment cable.”

The product subsequently failed to meet the requirements of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016.

Product recalls should be treated seriously so customers are safe. Earlier on Tuesday, SPAR issued a recall for several of its chicken products after Listeria monocytogenes was discovered in them.

The affected items include SPAR Enjoy Local Cooked Chicken Pieces, Cooked Chicken Slices and Cooked Chicken Fillets.