“SHEIN items can make you sick”

Question

Some people say clothes from SHEIN made them sick. One person got a cough, rashes, congestion, and felt really tired after wearing new stuff from the store. The clothes might have chemicals or dyes that are bad for your skin or that you breathe in.

The article also says fast fashion stores like SHEIN use stuff in their clothes that can be dangerous. Touching or breathing the chemicals can give you allergies, make your skin itchy, or make you feel sick. Cheaper clothes sometimes aren't tested well, so they can make people get sick more easily.

Answer 1

This claim is accurate, based on multiple sources such as Business Insider, The Guardian, Greenpeace International, and official statement from SHEIN group.

Several investigations and laboratory tests have confirmed that some SHEIN product contain dangerous chemicals. The substances can cause skin irritation, allergic reaction, and respiratory issues for individuals. Supporting concerns that certain SHEIN clothes may cause sickness.

According to The Guardian, the European Union Justice Commissioner shocked after an EU wide investigation discovered that dangerous products from SHEIN and Temu were being sold to European customers. The goods such as children's raincoats containing toxic chemicals, sunglasses without UV filters and cosmetics with banned substances like Lilial, which has been linked to fertility and developmental risks. The article highlights that these findings reveal major safety, failures in fast fashion, and online marketplace supply chain.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jul/20/eu-commissioner-shocked-dangerous-goods-sold-shein-temu#:~:text=Related%20stories-,Related%20stories,23%20Aug%202024

Business Insider reported that South Korea tested 144 clothing and accessory items sold by SHEIN, Temu, and AliExpress. The results revealed that some shoes contained phthalates up to 229 times higher than the legal limits.

https://www.businessinsider.com/shein-temu-shoes-11-229-times-legal-limit-toxic-substances-2024-8#:~:text=Shein%20and%20Temu%20shoes%20contain,permissible%20levels%20of%20toxic%20substances.

In response, SHEIN group release an official statement guarantee that it had conducted over two million product safety tests in 2024 and would strengthen its third party laboratory testing and quality assurance systems to meet global safety standards.

https://www.sheingroup.com/corporate-news/shein-conducted-over-two-million-product-safety-tests-in-2024-reinforces-commitment-to-product-safety-and-sustainability/

Answer 2

This claim is true but may need more context to fully understand why. This claim is backed up by multiple sources. There is evidence from Business Insider, which reported that South Korea tested 144 clothing and accessory items from SHEIN, Temu, and AliExpress and found that some contained phthalates at levels up to 299 times the legal limit, chemicals known to irritate the skin and cause respiratory issues. Also The Guardian covered an EU-wide investigation that identified dangerous products sold by SHEIN showing systemic safety issues in fast-fashion supply chains. Germany also reported that 32% of tested SHEIN garments exceeded EU chemical safety limits, detecting substances such as phthalates and PFAS, which can enter the body through skin contact or inhalation. While not every SHEIN product has been shown to cause illness, there is credible evidence that some items have contained harmful chemicals. 

Sources: 
Business insider
The Guardian 

Answer 3

This claim holds true, though additional context is necessary to understand its implications. Business Insider documented South Korean testing of 144 clothing and accessory items from SHEIN, Temu, and AliExpress, revealing that certain products contained phthalates at concentrations reaching 299 times the legal threshold. It is dangerous because these are chemicals recognized for causing skin irritation and respiratory complications. The Guardian's coverage of an EU-wide investigation further exposed dangerous products marketed by SHEIN, pointing to systemic safety failures embedded within fast fashion chains. German authorities reported a particularly troubling finding: 32% of examined SHEIN garments surpassed EU chemical safety standards, with detected substances including phthalates and PFAS that can infiltrate the body through dermal contact or inhalation. Though not every SHEIN product has demonstrably caused adverse health effects, credible evidence confirms that certain items have indeed harbored harmful chemical compounds. With this claim it is important to understand what they mean by "sick" as it means undergoing health complications, not catching a viral illness.

https://www.businessinsider.com/shein-temu-shoes-11-229-times-legal-limit-toxic-substances-2024-8

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jul/20/eu-commissioner-shocked-dangerous-goods-sold-shein-temu