Parents are being warned about NeeDoh squishy toys causing chaos at UK airport security this summer. The stress-relief toys, filled with gel or liquid, are triggering scanners and leading to delays, bag searches, and confiscations.
Incidents at Airports
Emma Barnes, a part-time teacher from Chester, Cheshire, was travelling to Barcelona from Birmingham Airport on May 29 with her ten-year-old twins when their cases were pulled aside. She said: “I didn't know it was a thing until it happened to us. We had five or six squishies in total spread across random pockets in our bags. I didn’t think twice, I thought it was just a squishy toy the kids had and especially on a short hall flight when they don't have a television, they need something.”
Security officials went through their bags until they found a NeeDoh squishy. Barnes added: “The first case got pulled and they took the squishy out and said we can’t tell what the component is inside of it and they had to drug test it. My daughter then said to me ‘I put two in the other cases as well’. The queue behind us was getting massive and I was dying inside. The security was really nice, they scanned and swabbed them and gave them back to us.”
She warned other parents: “I wanted to help warn other parents travelling this summer as everyone’s kids have squishy toys. We could see the airport staff thinking 'this is going to be a bad summer ahead'.”
Similar Experiences and Warnings
Leanne from Derbyshire had a similar experience at East Midlands Airport. Her seven-year-old daughter, who is on the special educational needs (SEN) pathway, hid a NeeDoh in a bag. Leanne said: “Thankfully we were allowed to keep it. I have heard that some airports dispose of them. My little girl is in the SEN pathway so they help her regulate emotions when she's stressed, so she was so worried it would be taken from her. The security lady said they flag up all the time. It was not a nice experience but I do understand why it happened when we knew what our daughter had done.”
Other parents online reported that “my son's got taken off him” and that “Play-Doh has the same issue”.
Airport and Government Advice
A Manchester Airport spokesperson said: “Things like squishy toys contain liquid - this includes NeeDohs which use malt syrup. Smaller versions of the toy are under 100mls but larger versions are not. The problem is that as they don't have measurements printed on them security staff have to estimate their size. Our advice is that all but very small squishy toys should be placed in hold baggage.”
A Birmingham Airport spokesperson added: “These items are not a security prohibited item, but as with any item carried as cabin baggage, they are required to clear security screening.” Gatwick Airport also stated the toys are not prohibited but are subject to screening.
Government officials have issued concerns, including Aberdeen City Council in Scotland, which warned on July 13 about potentially dangerous versions of the toys, with more than 1,000 being seized from local shops in a month. Hillingdon Council trading standards officers seized 500,000 squishy dumpling toys in two months at Heathrow Airport, which were entering the UK for sale. Officials fear businesses are selling dangerous counterfeit versions and urge consumers to verify the source.
Hillingdon Council said: “Heathrow Airport is a gateway for goods entering the UK, and we’re proud to play a leading role in protecting consumers. As part of this work, our Trading Standards officers have been carrying out targeted checks on 'squishy' toys at Heathrow. In the past two months, the council has seized 500,000 squishy toys. Many are similar in design and lack proper labelling and traceability information. The main issue is the absence of clear details of a responsible UK-based business and the correct UKCA or CE safety markings, making it hard to verify compliance and take action.”
