United States — Parents shopping online for sensory and squishy toys are being warned about potentially dangerous counterfeit products after Amazon began removing certain squishy toys from its marketplace.
The removals come amid growing safety concerns surrounding fake and counterfeit children’s toys that may not meet federal requirements.
According to reports, Amazon has been taking down some sensory toys because the products allegedly failed to comply with applicable laws, regulations and Amazon’s own policies.
The developments follow a warning from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which says counterfeit squishy toys are being offered for sale by retailers despite potentially serious safety risks.
CPSC Warns About Dangerous Materials
The CPSC’s August 5 announcement warned that counterfeit squishy toys may fail to meet federal safety requirements for children’s products.
Some of the toys could contain water beads, small parts, lead, phthalates and other hazardous substances. The agency also warned that counterfeit products may lack important information normally required on children’s toys.
That can include age recommendations, safety warnings, tracking information and manufacturer identification.
Some products may also be sold without the testing and certification required for children’s products, making it more difficult for parents to know whether a toy has been properly evaluated for safety.
Damaged Squishy Toys Could Create Serious Hazards
The risks can become especially concerning if a squishy toy tears, bursts or breaks apart. According to the CPSC, children could potentially be exposed to water beads, liquids, powders, sand or gels contained inside the toys.
Depending on the material, exposure or ingestion could create risks including choking, aspiration, intestinal blockages, chemical exposure, inhalation and other injuries.
Parents may therefore want to pay particular attention to toys that appear poorly manufactured or begin leaking after relatively little use.
A toy that easily breaks apart can potentially expose children to materials that were never intended to be accessible.
Viral Microwave Trend Adds Another Danger
The warning also highlights a separate concern involving heat. Some squishy toys may present burn hazards if exposed to high temperatures.
The CPSC specifically referenced viral social media trends encouraging children to microwave squishy toys.
Heating these products can cause them to reach dangerously high temperatures, potentially creating a serious burn risk. Parents should therefore be cautious about any online trend encouraging children to heat, microwave or otherwise alter sensory toys.
How Parents Can Spot Counterfeit Toys
The CPSC says there are several warning signs that could indicate a squishy toy is counterfeit or potentially unsafe.
Parents may want to be cautious if a product has a strong chemical odor, an unusually oily or sticky texture, visible leakage or material that tears apart easily.
Other warning signs include toys that lack required safety information or come from an unknown manufacturer.
The agency notes that children’s toys generally must be tested by a CPSC-accepted third-party laboratory and certified as complying with applicable federal requirements.
That certification process is intended to help ensure children’s products meet federal safety standards before reaching consumers.
More Than 355,000 Counterfeit Units Blocked
The scale of the problem has also drawn attention from federal authorities. The CPSC said it identified 55 shipments of counterfeit squishy toys at U.S. ports.
Authorities ultimately prevented a total of 355,683 units from entering the country.
The seizures underscore concerns that counterfeit children’s products can enter the marketplace without undergoing the same safety testing and certification expected of legitimate products.
Amazon’s removal of certain products adds another layer of scrutiny as retailers and regulators attempt to keep potentially hazardous counterfeit toys away from children.
For parents, the warning serves as a reminder to carefully check toy packaging, manufacturer information, safety warnings and product quality before giving sensory toys to children.
A product disappearing from an online marketplace may be inconvenient for shoppers, but when children’s safety is involved, regulators say preventing potentially dangerous products from reaching homes is far more important.
Have you purchased a squishy or sensory toy online that seemed unusual, smelled strongly or broke apart easily? Share your experience in the comments below.
