TOY SAFETY: Trading Standards issue urgent safety warning over viral TikTok ‘squishy dumpling’ toys

Parents are being warned to think twice before buying their children the latest TikTok toy craze — after Swansea Council‘s Trading Standards seized squishy dumpling toys from local shops and found they contained potentially hazardous chemicals.

The brightly coloured squeezy toys have swept through schools and social media feeds after being heavily promoted in unboxing videos and viral content, but Trading Standards officers say many of the products circulating in Swansea are failing basic safety tests.

Concerns were first raised by parents whose children were asking for the products — with many reporting that the toys gave off a strong chemical smell described as similar to petrol.

Officers examined a number of the products following the complaints and found that some were missing key legal requirements, including safety instructions explaining what to do if the product leaks or is punctured, a CE or UKCA safety mark, and the name and address of a UK-based responsible person such as an importer or manufacturer.

The missing responsible person detail is particularly significant — without it, officers may not be able to trace who is accountable for a product if safety concerns arise.

Products were subsequently seized from a number of retailers in Swansea and sent for laboratory testing. The results identified the presence of volatile organic compounds — including Ethyl Benzene, Styrene, m-Xylene, p-Xylene and o-Xylene — substances associated with the petrol-like smell parents had reported, and recognised as hazardous.

Rhys Harries, Swansea Council’s Trading Standards Officer, said: “These products are clearly attractive to children because they are being driven by online trends, but that does not mean they are safe.”

He added: “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. Our main concern is the risk posed to children if unsafe items end up in homes, school bags or play areas.”

The warning follows previous action by Trading Standards against fake Labubu toys — another viral product — which were identified and removed from sale in Swansea earlier this year.

Officers say the pattern is clear — as one online craze fades, another takes its place, and unsafe products can flood the market before regulators have time to act.

Mr Harries said: “Social media platforms such as TikTok can accelerate the spread of toy crazes almost overnight, but they can also help point Trading Standards towards the latest fake, unsafe or non-compliant products entering the market.”

He urged parents to buy from reputable retailers, check for correct safety markings and supplier details, and to be cautious about products promoted primarily through social media — however popular they appear.

Retailers are also being asked to check that any fast-moving trend products they stock meet legal safety requirements before putting them on sale.

A toy is never just a toy.

Our new EU in Practice piece looks at how EU toy safety rules protect children from hidden risks — from chemicals and small parts to unsafe online marketplace listings.

Because childhood should not have to negotiate with the marketplace.

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PRODUCT RECALL: Parents urged to stop children using Smyths Toys dig kits immediately after asbestos contamination fears

The government issued the shock recall on 1 April covering seven archaeology and excavation kits sold under the Smyths Toys own brand. The brightly-coloured sets — marketed at young children and designed to let them dig out dinosaur figures, gemstones and pirate treasure — contain a sand-like material which may include traces of the banned substance.

Asbestos is one of the most dangerous materials known to science. It was widely used in construction for decades before being banned, and its fibres — invisible to the naked eye — can become permanently lodged in the lungs, causing conditions including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. There is no safe level of exposure.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards, which published the recall, said the toys posed “a risk to health” and did not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011. The alert was triggered by Local Authority Trading Standards.

The seven recalled products are the Dino Dig Sensory Bin, Dig In Kit GOLD, Let’s Dig Out Dinosaur Eggs (10pc), Gem Dig Kit (12 Gem Pack), Dig It Up Pirates 13 Treasure Set, Dig In Treasure Dig and Discover Play Gold Treasure Chest, and Gem Dig Kit 8 Pack.

Anyone who has bought any of the affected kits is being told to stop using them immediately and to keep them away from children. Smyths Toys is offering a full refund and customers can return the products to their nearest store — including the Swansea branch at the Enterprise Park in Llansamlet.

The situation is potentially more alarming for families where the kits have already been used, since the sand will have been disturbed. Parents in that position are being told not to sweep or brush the area, as doing so can generate dust and spread fibres further.

Instead, anyone who has used the kits should clean the area using wet cloths to suppress any dust, and must wear gloves and a mask during clean-up. The sand, cloths, gloves and mask should all be double-bagged together before disposal.

If the sand remains unopened in its original packaging, it should be placed inside a heavy-duty plastic bag, double taped and sealed, clearly labelled and stored safely away from children until it can be returned or disposed of.

Families who cannot get to a Smyths Toys store can dispose of the bagged sand in their general household waste, and contact Smyths Toys directly to arrange a refund without needing to travel.

The government’s full product recall notice — PSD case number 2603-0225 — can be found at gov.uk/guidance/product-recalls-and-alerts. Further guidance from Smyths Toys is available at smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/product-information.

Parents with concerns about potential exposure are advised to contact their GP.

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