Warning issued to anyone with a fake Labubu over serious health consequences

A warning has been issued to anyone with a fake Labubu doll as it’s been revealed that the popular toys can pose a serious risk to the health of children.

If you’ve somehow never heard of them, Labubus are essentially furry monster-like dolls that have soared in popularity in recent months.

The collectibles, which were created by Hong-Kong born artist Kasing Lung, come in a variety of different colours and collections.

Celebrities including Dua Lipa and Rihanna have jumped onto the bandwagon and been spotted with the creepy-looking creatures hanging from their bags.

Often used as an accessory as they can be clipped onto your handbag like a keyring, the thing that seems to make the dolls most appealing is the ‘blind box element’.

This means you don’t know which one you’re going to get until you open it, which often leads to collectors buying them in bulk.

But like anything that’s in demand, the increasing desire for Labubus has led to a number of fakes popping up around the world.

Authorities have issued a warning against buying fake Labubus, as the real toys continue to fly off the shelves (Edward Berthelot / Getty Images)

Dubbed as ‘Lafufus,’ these simply are cheaply-made, knock off versions of the real thing, made by people hoping to make a quick bit of cash off the back of the trend.

And they’re appearing everywhere - from corner shops to deceivingly real-seeming websites and even street vendors.

Understandably, parents who are being nagged by their children to get their hands on a Labubu may have turned to the cheaper fake version.

However, authorities are now warning against this as 'Lafufus' haven’t been through trading standards and the health and safety checks that toys usually go through.

This means they can’t be guaranteed as safe for little ones due to things like small parts posing a choking hazard.

Councils up and down the UK have begun to issue warnings against Lafufus, including Angus, Scotland’s authorities, which issued a statement earlier this month.

The council outlined how hundreds of counterfeit Labubus were recovered from shops in Angus within just one week.

Councils up and down the UK are issuing warnings about 'Lafufus' due to health concerns like a choking hazard due to small parts (Angus Council)

Its statement warned: “Businesses and consumers need to be aware that these counterfeit versions of the collectible doll toys are potentially dangerous and could pose a choking hazard to young children.

“All goods recovered by officers were examined and found to be of poor quality and did not have the safety and/or trademark labelling that’s required by law in the UK and EU.”

It continued: “They had loose parts, which young children could choke on.

“Officers removed around 250 products from sale in one Angus town alone, however, these fake Labubu dolls are known to be an issue across the UK. Enquiries in Angus are continuing.”

And it isn't the first authority to pick up on this issue.

Just last week, Northumberland County Council had a similar message to share, warning against the counterfeit versions.

Northumberland County Councillor Gordon Stewart, Cabinet Member for Public Safety, said: “The safety of our children must always come first.

“We are issuing this urgent warning to consumers, especially parents—to remain vigilant when purchasing these highly sought-after collectables and to report any concerns about the safety of toys they have bought or seen on sale to us."

Hundreds of counterfeit Labubu toys were recovered from shops in Angus earlier this month (Angus Council)

Adding: “These copycat toys have been flooding the UK market and have found their way to Northumberland too.

“As they are often cheaper they might seem like a bargain compared to the genuine versions, but they can be dangerous if they have not been manufactured in accordance with stringent toy safety legislation.

“Our Trading Standards officers are constantly on the lookout for products which contravene safety legislation and will continue their diligent work to ensure counterfeit and unsafe products are removed from the Northumberland marketplace."

Although they may look similar, you can spot a fake Labubu due to poor quality stitching, hands and feet that fall off, and other small differences that make them stand out against the real thing.

The most notable difference is that real Labubus have nine teeth, whereas counterfeit versions will often have less or more.