AARP Flags 10 Dollar-Store Categories Consumers Should Avoid

AARP has flagged 10 dollar-store product categories where savings may not outweigh health and quality risks, according to a new report. Skincare products drew scrutiny after a May 2025 Campaign for Healthier Solutions study found formaldehyde-releasing agents, classified as a known human carcinogen, in baby lotion sold at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, among nearly 50 flagged products.
Groceries were also flagged: Dollar Tree paid a $559,250 settlement in January 2026 after New York's attorney general found the chain kept selling lead-tainted children's applesauce pouches days after a recall, and Dollar General voluntarily recalled instant coffee across 48 states in August 2025 after glass fragments were reported. Electronics such as phone chargers and headphones were also cited, with the CHS study finding kids' headphones containing solder with 22,000 parts per million of lead.
Other flagged categories include plastic food containers (found to contain bisphenol S and PVC), batteries, candy, makeup, pet food, picture frames, and toys, with the CHS study finding PVC in nearly two dozen children's toys and lead in electronic items like light-up bracelets.