Spot the Fakes: Keep Your Kids Safe from Toxic Squishy Toy Knockoffs!

Squishy toys have become a huge trend among children, but there is growing concern about the safety of some of these products. Authorities in Oxfordshire and Berkshire are warning parents, grandparents, and retailers to be cautious about counterfeit squishy toys. These fake toys can sometimes contain dangerous chemicals that are not safe for children. The Office for Product Safety and Standards recently issued a warning about a brand called Squeezy Dumpling, but there are many other brands and plenty of counterfeits on the market. Trading Standards officers have seized large numbers of fake squishy toys, including replicas of the popular Nee-Doh brand. The genuine Nee-Doh toys are imported by Bigjigs Toys, and their products should have the name and address of the UK importer on the packaging. If a squishy toy does not have this information, it may be a fake and could be unsafe.

Mark, a trading standards officer, explained that toys without a UK address are unregulated and may not have been tested for harmful substances. This means that consumers do not know what the toys are made of or what kind of testing has been done. If there is a problem with the toy, there is no one in the UK to contact for help. Some of the recalled squishy toys were found to contain benzene, a chemical that can cause irritation to the skin, eyes, nose, and throat, and is also a carcinogen. Other squishy toys have been found to contain phthalates, which are chemicals used to make plastics softer. Phthalates are regulated as hazardous substances in the UK, but they are still used in some products like cosmetics and food packaging.

Consumers are being advised to check squishy toys for leaks, splits, or damage, and to never heat, microwave, or tamper with them. Bigjigs Toys says that squishy toys are in high demand because of their popularity on social media. There are also concerns from campaigners for children with special educational needs and disabilities, who often use squishy toys to help them feel calm. Claire Brenner, a campaigner from Oxfordshire, is worried that these toys could be harmful, especially for neurodivergent children who are attracted to sensory inputs. She is grateful that the council is taking a precautionary approach and removing unsafe toys from the market. Some fake toys have obvious spelling mistakes, such as 'stupid' spelled 'suptid', but there are other signs to look out for. Retailers and consumers should check for the UKCA or CE mark, which is a certification requirement for Great Britain. However, many counterfeit toys also have these marks, so it is important to look for a UK address as well. If you cannot find this information, ask the retailer who the manufacturer or importer is. If they cannot tell you, it is best to avoid buying the toy. Counterfeit toys often appear when a new craze starts, as traders try to copy products that are selling well. Parents and grandparents should be aware of the risks and check toys carefully before buying them.