Blackpool Council’s Trading Standards team have removed 372 products from three shops in recent weeks, in a bid to protect shoppers from potentially hazardous items.
Copies of popular, legitimate toys like NeeDohs have flooded shops as the originals have gone viral on social media. Now the government has issued urgent safety warnings over the so-called “squishy dumplings” - tactile, gel-filled items.
Blackpool Council has already seized scores of the counterfeit items.
The products being sold in Blackpool contained harmful solvents or were packaged without any safety warnings or transparency over the materials used, posing risks to users, particularly children.
Laboratory tests on similar items have found toxic substances like phthalates, solvents, formaldehyde and benzene in toy’s composition. These can cause skin irritation, nausea, headaches or breathing problems, or pose fire risks.
Cllr Dave Flanagan, cabinet member for public protection, housing and empty properties, said:
Shoppers are now being urged to be wary of counterfeit products by:
- Checking packaging carefully
- Buying from a trusted retailer
- Being wary of products sold at very low prices
- Being suspicious if a toy has a strong or unusual smell
Under UK law toys should hold a CE or UKCA quality mark and have the name and address of the supplier in the UK or EU on the packaging. Packaging should also include any usage warnings, age restrictions and instructions, all printed in English and without spelling errors.