Local councils across the UK have warned parents to be careful with dumpling squishy toys after counterfeit versions were found on sale and some were seized from shops and a warehouse. The warning has landed as the toys continue to spread through TikTok and YouTube, where unboxing clips have drawn millions of views.
Rhys Harries said a toy that smells strongly of chemicals and lacks basic safety information should set off alarm bells. He said the main concern was that unsafe items could end up in homes, school bags or play areas. That warning matters now because many of these toys are sold in blind boxes, so buyers do not know what they are getting until they open them.
Dumpling squishies are soft toys shaped like little dumplings or buns that can be squeezed, stretched or rolled between the hands. Their surprise packaging has helped drive demand, but councils say counterfeit versions are increasingly slipping into the market and often fail health and safety checks. The concern is not over every squishy toy. It is over the fake ones that look cheap, lack clear labelling or arrive with a strong smell.
Swansea Council said Trading Standards officers began looking into the toys after complaints that some gave off a smell like petrol. Tests on some products found chemicals that can release into the air and irritate the eyes, skin or lungs. Warrington Trading Standards also removed gel-filled squishy toys from some shops after officers found safety problems, while Aberdeen City Council and Trafford Council issued warnings of their own.
Glasgow saw the biggest seizure named so far, with trading standards officers taking nearly 6,000 counterfeit squishy toys from a warehouse in the city. Councils are urging people to check for CE or UKCA markings before buying, especially if a toy is unusually cheap, leaks, smells very strong or looks poorly made. The gap left by the warnings is where the next question sits: which brands and sellers are moving the unsafe counterfeits through the supply chain.
For families, the message is straightforward. The toys are popular for a reason, but the safest-looking box is not always the safest toy inside it. A recent warning from councils has already put parents in Cleethorpes on alert after a separate seizure of Squishy Bun Dumpling toys in Stockton, and the latest advice suggests shoppers should check the label before the surprise.
