Urgent warning to throw away squishy toy over unusual smell as thousands recalled

An urgent warning has been issued to parents across the UK to throw away counterfeit Squishy Dumplings if it starts to give off an unusual smell after thousands of fake toys were seized over serious safety concerns.

The colourful collectables have become one of this year's biggest toy crazes, with children and even some adults hoping to unbox the ultra-rare glitter versions hidden inside mystery blind boxes.

But the collectables' popularity has also led to a surge in counterfeit versions appearing on the market.

Trading Standards officers have raised concerns after fake toys were found to contain potentially harmful chemicals, prompting fresh warnings for families.

Last month, Swansea Council urged parents to dispose of counterfeit dumpling squishies which had a strong chemical smell, described as being similar to petrol.

Parents have been issued a warning to throw away the squishy toy immediately if it has a specific smell (Glasgow City Council)

Testing carried out on seized products found that a number contained volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including Ethyl Benzene, Styrene, m-Xylene, p-Xylene and o-Xylene.

Rhys Harries, Swansea Council's Trading Standards Officer, warned: "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."

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

The warning comes after Glasgow City Council Trading Standards officers also seized more than 5,900 counterfeit squishy toys from a warehouse.

The collectables' popularity has also led to a surge in counterfeit versions appearing on the market (Getty Stock Images)

Laura Doherty, 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."

Meanwhile, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), has recalled counterfeit Squishy Dumplings sold by Samsons Cash and Carry Ltd in Cardiff after they were found to contain four times the legal UK limit of benzene in the toy's outer layer.

According to the OPSS, the counterfeit toys contained 20mg of benzene per kilogram, despite the UK legal limit being 5mg per kilogram.

The OPSS warned of a serious chemical risk with the counterfeit toys (Getty Stock Images)

Benzene is a chemical used in the manufacture of products such as plastics, foams and detergents, but prolonged exposure has been linked to certain cancers. Higher levels of exposure can also irritate the eyes, skin, nose and throat.

Due to these issues, parents are being encouraged to check toys carefully before buying.

Genuine products should display UKCA or CE safety markings, age recommendations, manufacturer details and clear safety warnings.

Packaging with spelling mistakes, missing information or no instructions should also raise concerns, while experts say unusually low prices from unknown sellers can be another warning sign.

And if the toy has a strong chemical smell, officials say that's one red flag you definitely shouldn't ignore.