A warning has been issued to those who have purchased fake and counterfeit squishy toys.
The popular toys can come as animal, food, and character-shapes and are sold through online marketplaces, social media, discount stores, and other retailers.
Some squishy toys do not comply with federal safety requirements for children’s toys, including requirements addressing water beads, small parts, lead, phthalates, and other hazardous substances.
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They may also break or tear and can contain excessive levels of lead, prohibited phthalates, or other hazardous chemicals.
Because of this, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers that fake and counterfeit toys may pose serious risks to children.
To date, they have identified 55 shipments of these squishy toys at U.S. ports.
You're urged to not purchase fake or counterfeit squishy toys and to stop using any squishy toy that has an unknown manufacturer, lacks required safety information, has a strong chemical odor, feels oily or unusually sticky, is leaking, or can be torn apart easily.
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They offer the following tips to spot the fakes and keep kids safe:
- Know the seller. Purchase toys from reputable retailers and verified sellers with clear contact and return information.
- Beware of bargains. Prices substantially below those charged by established retailers may signal a counterfeit or substandard product.
- Check the packaging. Avoid products with misspelled words, poor-quality printing, missing manufacturer or importer information, or no age grading or safety warnings.
- Inspect the toy regularly. Stop using any toy that is torn, punctured, leaking, sticky, unusually soft, discolored, or beginning to deteriorate.
- Keep damaged toys away from children. Do not allow children to touch, swallow, inhale, or play with material released from a toy.
- Keep toys away from heat. Never microwave or intentionally heat squishy toys. Do not leave them in hot cars, prolonged sunlight, near heaters, or on other hot surfaces.
- Use caution during cleanup. Avoid direct skin contact with material released from a heated or burst toy.
- Follow age restrictions. Keep toys containing small parts or ingestible materials away from young children.
