Trading standards officers have seized more than 5,900 counterfeit “squishy” toys made popular by social media which they warned could pose serious dangers to anyone playing with them.
The toys, which often resemble dumplings and come in a dim sum box, are soft and easy to squeeze and are typically made from polyurethane foam or gel materials.
Their popularity has soared, driven by viral TikTok clips, however, trading standards officers said this has led to an increase in counterfeit products which do not meet health and safety regulations.
They warned that such versions may contain substances such as formaldehyde, solvents and phthalates and may emit strong chemical smells.
People using them may risk nausea, headaches, skin irritation and even breathing problems and they may be a choking hazard for younger children, officials warned.
Glasgow City Council Trading Standards officers seized more than 5,900 counterfeit squishies from a warehouse in the Tradeston area of the city on Thursday June 4.
Laura Doherty, a councillor and city convener for Neighbourhood Services and Assets, said: “The items which have been recovered pose serious dangers to anyone using or playing with them.
“I would urge people when considering buying these popular toys to check that you are purchasing from a retailer you can trust and to check labels thoroughly.”
Trading Standards also warned that counterfeit products may also split open, with the unknown contents spilling out and potentially posing risks, while they may also not meet flammability standards.
The council said that, based on estimations from the Government’s Office for Product Safety & Standards, each toy would have cost around £71 in terms of health and safety risks posed, businesses losing sales, damage to property, consumers having to replace items and time spent dealing with faulty products.
Ms Doherty said: “This intervention prevented over £400,000 worth of harm to consumers and businesses.
“Trading Standards will continue to monitor the supply and distribution of counterfeit goods through targeted inspections and enforcement activity, particularly within lower-cost retail sectors and non-traditional supply chains.”
The council urged people to check whether a product is genuine by looking for information such as UKCA/CE marking, age restrictions, safety warnings and instructions and manufacturer details.
It said that if any of these are not on the packaging, the toy is likely to be counterfeit and not safe.
Other warning signs include an extremely low price, a strong or unusual smell, no “do not eat” warnings for items that look like food and the item being sold without any packaging.
The council said that trading standards teams will continue to visit other warehouses in the city.