Parents are being urged to bin ‘squishy dumpling’ toys immediately if they notice a strong chemical smell, as trading standards officers warn that counterfeit versions can pose serious safety risks.
The warning comes amid a fresh wave of enforcement action across the UK, with councils reporting that some imitation squishy toys have been pulled from sale after parents complained of pungent odours, missing safety labelling and poor build quality. Officials say the smell can be a sign that a toy has not been properly tested and may contain unsafe chemicals.
Households that already have the soft, spongy toys are being advised to stop using them and throw them away if they leak, split or give off a noticeable chemical smell. Similar products have also been linked to harmful substances, including benzene and other volatile organic compounds, in cases where counterfeit toys were examined.
Northumberland County Council’s Trading Standards team in the UK said the alert applies to both shoppers and retailers. The authority also highlighted a worrying social media craze that encourages children to heat the toys in a microwave to make them more flexible.
“The toys often emit a strong, pungent chemical smell when opened, with laboratory tests on similar items revealing the presence of toxic chemicals.”
Officials said that online trend has been associated with toys splitting or leaking hot contents, leading to serious burns. They stressed that these items, and other comparable ‘squishy’ toys, should never be put in a microwave.
One parent, Charlotte, 42, from Bristol, said her 10-year-old daughter Bella suffered severe burns to her face after attempting the trend.
In an interview with the BBC, she said:
“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.
“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.”
The toys are designed to resemble bao buns, with part of their popularity among children coming from the chance to collect rarer shiny editions. Genuine versions are sold by RMS International, but officials say cheaper lookalikes sold online or through independent shops are more likely to be poorly made, lack proper marking and may not meet UK toy safety standards.
Northumberland County Councillor Gordon Stewart, Cabinet Member for Public Safety, also urged caution when buying them.
“The safety of our children must always come first, and we are issuing this important warning to consumers, especially parents – to remain vigilant when purchasing any toys to ensure they are buying the genuine product.”
He added:
“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.”
The council has advised buyers to look for a CE or UKCA mark before purchasing, as those labels show a toy has met key safety requirements. Shoppers are also advised to check that packaging includes the manufacturer or UK importer’s name and address, along with any safety warnings and instructions.
If those markings are not present, or if the toy smells strongly of chemicals, officials said the product may not have gone through the necessary testing and should be discarded. Parents are also being warned to keep children away from copycat squishies that look like food, especially if they are sold loose or at unusually low prices.
Retailers have been told to remove suspect products from sale and to report concerns through their local Trading Standards team.
RMS International has been approached for comment.