SQUISHY toys sold in the UK have been recalled after tests revealed they contained a highly toxic chemical.
Purchasers should stop using the product immediately, and keep out of the reach of children.
A trending toy has been recalled over fears of chemical risks (stock pic)
The Squeezy Dumpling toy contained excess amounts of the chemical benzene Credit: Office for Product Safety and Standards
Squeezy Dumplings, sold by Cardiff-based wholesaler and website, Samsons Cash and Carry Ltd, have been recalled over fears they present a .
The children’s squeezy toy product, manufactured in China, was found to contain an illegal quantity of benzene, a chemical substance, in its outer layer.
Owners have been urged to stop using the product, immediately and to return it, making sure to keep out of the reach of children.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has also instructed customers to contact Samsons Cash and Carry Ltd directly to get more information.
Benzene is colourless liquid with a notable sweet odour, used in a number of products such as plastics, foams, dyes, detergents, solvents, and insecticides.
However, when the concentration exceeds legal limits, benzene can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, and in larger quantities, it can lead to skin irritation and a burning sensation in the digestive tract.
Studies have also classified benzene as a carcinogenic substance, with the UKHSA warning: “Benzene is known to cause acute myeloid leukaemia/acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia and potentially other cancers in humans.”
of benzene contained these Squeezy Dumplings toys were found to be 20mg per kilogram, far in excess of the 5mg per kilogram legal maximum in the UK.
Viral toys have become an online sensation in recent months, with items sold in a wide variety of high street retailers.
Toys include a plastic “basket style” pot with colourful, polymer dumpling toy inside.
The original toys by RMS International have a significant resale value, with some hiked to £20 compared to the initial price of £6.
However, the popularity has seen a wave of squishy dumplings entering the UK market, provoking worries about the toxicity of the products.
undertaken by Swansea Council revealed some counterfeit products contained hazardous materials, such as Ethyl Bezene, Styrene, and other volatile organic compounds.
The Squeezy Dumplings sold by Samsons Cash and Carry Ltd, mark the first official recall of these toys by the OPSS.
To avoid buying potentially toxic toys, parents should look for a valid CE or UKCA mark to prove the product has been safety assessed.
If an unusually strong chemical smell is emitted from the product, owners should dispose of them .
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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