Editor’s Note
This investigation reveals a troubling reality: nearly one-third of online costume jewelry fails to meet European heavy metal safety standards. As the article details, the presence of substances like cadmium and lead poses significant, yet often hidden, risks to both consumer health and the environment. We urge readers to consider these findings carefully when making purchasing decisions.
Nearly one in three pieces of costume jewelry purchased online exceeds European standards for heavy metals. Cadmium, lead: behind the glitter lie invisible risks to health and the environment.
An earring that shines like the sun, a necklace for three euros delivered in two clicks, a flood of red hearts on TikTok. Except that inside, heavy metals are found that do not go out of fashion. Controls carried out in 2025 by federal inspectors show that 32% of the batches of costume jewelry checked between January and September contain too much cadmium or lead. In 2023, the rate even reached 35%.
These figures were made public on Tuesday morning at Brucargo, the freight zone of Zaventem airport, during a demonstration organized by Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés), the Federal Minister of Mobility, Climate and Environmental Transition. He unveiled his action plan to strengthen the Federal Environmental Inspection and more strictly target imports via e-commerce.