EcoWaste Coalition reminds parents to be cautious of cute squishy toys lacking authorization and labeling information
13 June 2026, Quezon City. Following UK warnings and product seizures, EcoWaste Coalition cautioned parents and kids against buying unapproved squishy toys, as such products may pose health and safety risks.
During the last several weeks, local councils across the UK conducted inspections and seizures targeting soft, squeezable, and stretchable toys, including those shaped like buns or dumplings. Safety concerns were raised due to the squishy toys’ 1) lack of legal safety markings in the packaging, and 2) petrol-like chemical smell.
The spate of product warnings and seizures by UK authorities prompted the EcoWaste Coalition to check if similar squishy bun and dumpling toys are sold locally.
EcoWaste Coalition’s market monitoring on June 12 shows similar “made in China” products of diverse designs and sizes are sold on sidewalks and in shopping malls in Binondo, Manila. These toys have not been evaluated and authorized for market release by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in violation of Republic Act No. 9711, or the FDA Act of 2009. They are also insufficiently labeled, breaching the mandatory requirements of Republic Act No. 10620, or the Toy and Game Safety Labeling Act of 2013.
These unauthorized squishy gel toys are sold from P470 per box of 12 squishies.
Despite lacking market authorization, popular squishy buns and dumplings are sold on sidewalks and in toy stores in Binondo, Manila.
UK media have reported the government’s confiscation of thousands of unsafe squishy toys. At Heathrow Airport, trading standards officers from Hillingdon Council stopped 500,000 squishy dumplings from entering the UK in the last two months. In Glasgow, some 6,000 counterfeit squishies were seized from a warehouse. In Oldham, more than 1,100 squishy toys were seized and will be destroyed.
Tests carried out by Swansea trading standards officers revealed the presence of hazardous chemicals that can be discharged into the air, causing eye, skin, or lung irritation.
According to the Office of Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), compliant products should clearly display safety markings in the packaging, carry safety warnings and usage instructions, and provide manufacturer and importer details. “Products lacking this information, or those with a strong chemical smell, may pose a risk,” the OPSS said.
Last month, the EcoWaste Coalition raised concerns about the hazards of squishy gel toys, warning that ruptured toys expose skin and eyes to inner fluids of unknown composition. They also highlighted risks of choking from bursts, burns if the toy is microwaved, and the emission of harmful airborne gases like volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Consumers are advised to examine product labeling information carefully and avoid poorly labeled toys
Even though squishy toys are great for playtime and sensory learning, the EcoWaste Coalition urged parents to buy only FDA-authorized products and to supervise their children when playing with such toys.
Buyers should also look for red flags like poor labeling and chemical odors.
The EcoWaste Coalition has already requested the FDA to issue a supplementary advisory on sensory toys, focusing on squishy gel toys. In April 2025, the FDA released Advisory No. 2025-0497, reminding the public about the safe use of sensory toys, such as clay, play-dough, slime, and kinetic sand.
##########
Reference:
https://ecowastecoalition.blogspot.com/2026/05/warning-out-on-potential-hazards-of.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/c1jyd5l7326o
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/half-a-million-viral-squishy-toys-seized-at-heathrow-airport-b1285761.html
https://news.sky.com/story/warning-after-almost-6-000-counterfeit-squishy-toys-seized-in-glasgow-13551966