UK Trading Standards officials have issued a safety alert urging parents to throw away squishy dumpling toys after laboratory tests confirmed some versions contain dangerously high levels of benzene, a carcinogenic chemical linked to serious health risks.
The Trading Standards team at Northumberland County Council issued the warning to both consumers and businesses, flagging concerns about counterfeit versions of the popular bao bun shaped toys that have become a craze among children, partly due to the appeal of collecting ultra-rare shiny versions.
The situation has been made significantly more dangerous by a social media trend in which children microwave the toys to make them softer. Officials have stressed that under no circumstances should squishy toys of this kind be placed in a microwave. Reports have emerged of the toys bursting or leaking scalding hot material, causing serious burns.
Charlotte, 42, from Bristol, told the BBC that her 10-year-old daughter Bella was left with significant facial injuries after copying the trend. The silicone outer layer of the toy meant the children could not feel how hot it had become inside before it burst.
"When she came in, I could see straight away her face was bright red, it looked like she'd been whacked in the face and I could see the scald mark and there was skin missing and blisters," Charlotte said. "Because of the silicone outer layer, they couldn't feel how hot it was inside, so her friend squeezed it, which is when it burst on to both of them."
Officials are urging parents to check any squishy toys their children own for the CE or UKCA mark, which indicates the product has met required safety standards. If those marks are absent, the toy is likely to have bypassed safety testing and should be disposed of immediately.
The warning sign to look out for before disposing of the toy: a strong, pungent chemical smell when the packaging is opened. According to the Trading Standards team, toys that emit this smell have tested positive for the presence of toxic chemicals including benzene in laboratory analysis. If a squishy toy smells strongly of chemicals when opened, parents are advised to throw it away immediately and not allow children to handle it.
Northumberland County Councillor Gordon Stewart said: "While these cheaper squishy toys may look harmless, they could pose a hidden risk to children. Our Trading Standards officers are currently visiting stores across the county to ensure retailers remove these items from shelves."
