The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued an urgent warning to Americans after popular squishy dumpling toys burst and caused severe burns.
The federal safety agency warned last week that squeeze toys, which have captivated children and adults with their satisfying, stress-relieving texture and collectible designs, can become dangerously hot when exposed to high-temperature environments. Counterfeit versions widely sold through online marketplaces, social media, discount stores, and other retailers may also contain toxic substances and violate federal safety requirements, according to the CPSC.
Designed to resemble animals, food, and popular characters, the toys can overheat when left in direct sunlight, inside a hot vehicle, or near a heater. The heat can cause a toy to burst, spraying scorching material onto the skin and causing severe burns, while the sticky filling can cling to the body, continuing to transfer heat and worsening injuries.
In an August 5 alert, the CPSC noted that it had identified 55 shipments of violative squishy toys at US ports. Working alongside US Customs and Border Protection, federal officials prevented 355,683 units from entering the country.
The agency confirmed that it has issued notices of violation to companies responsible for importing or selling noncompliant products. "The Commission will continue using its import-surveillance, enforcement, and public-warning authorities to keep dangerous toys out of American homes," the CPSC stated.
Seizures at ports and safety advice
The CPSC urged consumers to purchase squishy toys exclusively from reputable retailers and verified sellers that provide clear contact and return information. Prices significantly lower than those offered by established retailers may indicate that a product is counterfeit or does not meet federal safety standards.
Shoppers should inspect packaging for misspelled words, poor-quality printing, missing manufacturer or importer information, and absent age ratings or safety warnings. The agency advised that toys should be checked regularly for tears, punctures, leaks, discoloration, unusual softness, stickiness, or other signs of deterioration.
Children should be kept away from damaged toys and must not touch, swallow, or inhale any material that leaks from them. Parents should also follow all age restrictions and keep toys containing small parts or ingestible materials away from young children.
Dangers of heating and viral challenges
Officials warned that squishy toys should never be microwaved or deliberately heated, nor should they be left inside hot cars, in prolonged sunlight, near heaters, or on other hot surfaces. If a toy bursts, consumers should avoid direct skin contact with the released material while cleaning it up.
The CPSC also explicitly condemned online videos showing people heating the toys until they expand, change texture, or burst. "These demonstrations are dangerous and should never be attempted or imitated," the agency warned.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent US federal regulatory agency created to safeguard the public against unreasonable risks of injury from consumer products. Tactile squeeze products, including squishy dumplings and NeeDoh stress cubes, are widely used as fidget toys and sensory items designed to relieve stress when compressed.
Injuries reported in West Virginia and Illinois
The federal warnings follow severe real-world injuries caused by overheated squeeze items. In July, a West Virginia teenager was hospitalized with horrific burns after a squishy toy that had been left inside a hot car burst.
Kim Staggs was driving her 13-year-old daughter, Natalee, home from her grandparents' house when the toy accidentally left inside the hot vehicle suddenly exploded. "We weren't even a mile up the road, and she just lets out this blood-curdling scream," Staggs told regional news station KDKA. "I'm driving and watching the road, and she lets out this awful scream. My heart sank."
When Staggs looked over, she discovered a clear substance, later identified as silicone, covering her daughter's lap. She rushed Natalee to a nearby hospital, where the teenager was taken into the emergency room for treatment.
Another severe incident occurred in January, when a nine-year-old Illinois boy suffered burns to his face and hands after a NeeDoh toy exploded in a microwave. While getting ready for school on the morning of January 20, Caleb turned on the microwave in his Plainfield home while his mother, Whitney Grubb, helped her other son get out the door.
Whitney thought Caleb was heating his breakfast, but all of that changed when she heard a "blood-curdling scream" from him, she told the Chicago Sun-Times. Instead of food, Caleb was actually microwaving a Needoh cube, a popular sensory toy or stress ball filled with a thick gel substance.
An online challenge shows people placing the toy in the appliance so they can soften it up, as the items firm up over time. But when Caleb opened the microwave door, the toy exploded on his face and hands, leaving him with excruciating burns.
"When I asked what happened, he told me that a friend at school told him about putting it in the microwave," Grubb told the outlet. "It wasn't anything malicious, it was just kids sharing stories, and unfortunately, he decided to try it."
