New toxic ‘squishy dumpling toy’ recall issued weeks after smell warning
A product recall has been issued for a particular version of a popular toy that's been trending on TikTok over a warning that they contain toxic chemicals.
There's always going to be a craze around particular toys if they start trending on social media, that's how you get a queue a mile long outside shops selling Labubu, only for the demand to vanish once people move onto the next thing.
One of the favoured toys at the moment is the 'squishy dumpling', which looks like colourful versions of Chinese cuisine and comes in their own plastic Dim Sum boxes, with people unboxing them on TikTok.
Samsons Cash and Carry Ltd in Cardiff have issued a recall for the 'Squeezy Dumplings' version after the government's Office for Product Safety and Standards warned they pose a 'serious' chemical risk to people since they may contain 'excessive levels of benzene'.
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It's imitation versions of the popular original that are being flagged as potentially harmful and being recalled for fear they're exposing people to toxic chemicals.
"The product presents a serious chemical risk because the outer layer contains an excess concentration of benzene (20mg/kg)," the government warning about these squishy toys said.
"If inhaled, benzene can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. Exposure to large amounts may also cause a burning feeling throughout the digestive tract and skin irritation.
"Improvements are also required to product labelling and marking."
People who have bought these toys have been told to stop playing with them and to keep them well away from children, since you don't want to be spending time around benzene as it's carcinogenic and carries a long-term risk of cancer.
Like any popular trend, there will be a dozen knock-off versions following it in the hopes of scoring your money to sell a very similar thing (your kids will notice it's not the real kind, they always do) and it's these which the government has warned over the risk of toxic chemicals.
Similar warnings about dupe dumplings were issued recently over the concern that they were emitting a strong chemical smell, which means you should throw them away.
Some of the cheaper knock-offs were emitting a smell like petrol and Swansea Council warned parents that if their attempt to placate their children with the latest craze was emitting that pungent petrol pong, you should get rid of it.
"When a toy gives off a strong chemical smell and is missing basic safety information, that should ring alarm bells for parents and retailers alike," Rhys Harries, Swansea Council's Trading Standards Officer, warned.
"Our main concern is the risk posed to children if unsafe items end up in homes, school bags or play areas."
Testing of various counterfeit toys found volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as Ethyl Benzene, Styrene, m-Xylene, p-Xylene and o-Xylene.
How to tell if your dumpling toys are genuine
Parents have been urged to check the packaging of their children's dumpling toys, with legitimate RMS dumpling toys containing the following information:
- A UKCA/CE marking, which indicates the toy has been safety assessed
- Age restrictions
- Safety warnings and instructions
- Manufacturer details
If the packaging does not contain the above information, the toy is likely to be counterfeit and not safe.
LADbible Group has contacted Samsons Cash and Carry Ltd for comment.
Joe Harker