News•Mar 14, 2026
European Retailers Yank Popular Headphones After Study Reports Trace Amounts of Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals
European retailers such as Bol.com, Coolblue and MediaMarkt have stopped selling several headphone models after an EU‑funded study detected trace amounts of hormone‑disrupting chemicals in all 81 products tested. The analysis, which covered brands like Apple, Beats, Samsung, Bose, JBL and Sennheiser, found bisphenols, phthalates and flame retardants in every sample, with some models receiving red risk ratings. High‑risk items—including HP HyperX Cloud III and Razer Kraken V3—were pulled from shelves, while manufacturers offered mixed responses. The report calls for a systemic ban on the most hazardous substances.