Parents are being warned about unsafe toys sold across parts of Wales that could pose a threat to children or anyone who comes into contact with them. Carmarthenshire Council's Trading Standards team is urging residents to be cautious when purchasing popular squishy or squeezy toys following the discovery of unsafe imitation products being sold in the county.
Counterfeit Stress Balls and Squeezy Toys Found in Shops
The warning centres on a growing number of fake stress ball-style toys, including imitation versions of well-known brands such as NeeDoh. Many of these products breach both product safety and trademark laws. Trading Standards officers have removed a number of squeezy dumpling toys – often sold in plastic steamer baskets – from shops across Carmarthenshire.
Testing of similar products by local authorities across Wales and the UK has revealed serious safety concerns. The investigations have found the toys contain hazardous chemicals, lack necessary safety information, emit strong chemical odours, and can cause burns or are at risk of explosion.
Social Media Trend Leads to Microwave Explosions and Burns
According to Trading Standards, a worrying social media trend has encouraged children to heat these toys in microwaves. Several incidents have resulted in children suffering serious burns after the toys burst – releasing boiling, glue-like gel that sticks to the skin. The gel can cause deep burns and requires medical attention.
Carmarthenshire Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for trading standards, councillor Aled Vaughan Owen, said: "Parents and carers should take extra care when buying toys, particularly those that are currently popular on social media or being sold at unusually low prices. Counterfeit toys may look convincing but can pose serious risks to children's health and safety. We encourage anyone who has purchased one of these products to carry out a few simple checks and stop using it immediately if they have any concerns."
Advice for Consumers: Check Marks, Avoid Microwaving
Trading Standards is advising consumers to check toys display the required UKCA or CE marking together with the manufacturer's or UK importer's name and address. They recommend stopping use immediately if the toy is leaking, has a strong chemical smell, is poorly made, or is missing safety information. Consumers should never place these toys in a microwave or allow children to put them in their mouths.
Officials urge anyone who has purchased a suspicious toy to contact Trading Standards or report it via the Citizens Advice consumer service. The warning follows a broader crackdown on counterfeit goods that pose health risks, with similar alerts issued in other parts of the UK.
