Parents have been issued an urgent warning after counterfeit Labubu toys were pulled from sale just before Christmas due to serious safety risks. The Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS) has issued recall notices for three products, warning of choking and strangulation hazards.
The affected items include a brown plushie Labubu, a green soft-filled toy with a spinning tail pull cord, and a brown wrist strap toy. According to safety reports, the zip pull on the plushie can detach, creating small parts that pose a choking risk. The green toy's keyring attachment and right foot can come loose easily, while the wrist strap toy has eyes that can fall off and an accessible battery pack in its head.
The OPSS stated that the products have been seized from the distributor and will be destroyed. Shoppers are urged to stop using the toys immediately. The counterfeit items lack required markings and age warnings, making them particularly dangerous for young children.
Labubus have surged in popularity this year, driven by celebrity fans including Rihanna, David Beckham, and Kim Kardashian. The craze originated in China and went global after Blackpink star Lalisa Manobal shared photos on social media. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute has advised consumers on how to spot fakes, though specific guidance was not detailed in the recall notice.
