More UK councils issue warnings over the safety of dumpling squishies

Dumpling squishies are very popular right now with unboxing videos on TikTok and YouTube gathering millions of views.

The soft toys shaped like little dumplings or buns, can be squeezed, stretched or rolled between hands.

Many are sold in 'blind boxes', which means you do not know which one you will get until you open it and part of the excitement is trying to find rarer versions - including shiny or glittery ones.

But, local councils in different parts of the UK are warning people that some dumpling squishies are not safe.

Read onto find out more...

Not every dumpling squishy is dangerous, but due to high demand and popularity, there has been an increase in the number of counterfeit versions on sale - and these fake toys often fail health and safety checks.

Councils across the UK say people should be extra careful if a toy smells very strong, leaks, has no clear labelling, seems unusually cheap to buy, or looks like it's not been made properly.

Swansea Council says Trading Standards officers - who check that the things shops sell are safe - started looking into the toys after complaints about a strong smell, described as being like "petrol".

When officers checked some products, they found missing safety information and said tests identified chemicals that can release into the air that can cause eye, skin, or lung irritation.

Rhys Harries, Swansea Council's Trading Standards Officer, said: "When a toy gives off a strong chemical smell and is missing basic safety information, that should ring alarm bells... Our main concern is the risk posed to children if unsafe items end up in homes, school bags or play areas."

Warrington Trading Standards has also removed gel-filled squishy toys from some shops after officers found safety problems. It said some toys had a strong chemical smell and were missing safety warnings along with manufacturer details - including where the toys had come from.

Some of the toys also missed basic safety labelling, including CE or UKCA markings.

These safety marks are small letter symbols printed on a toy's label or its box and show that a company says its product meets important safety rules.

Aberdeen City Council issued a similar warning, as did Glasgow City Council - with nearly 6,000 counterfeit squishy toys seized from a warehouse in the city by trading standards officers.

Swansea Council in Wales, and Trafford Council in England have also issued warnings about the toys found in some shops.

Families are advised to buy only from trusted retailers and check for proper labelling.

If a squishy toy is damaged, leaking or smells unusual, people are urged to stop using it immediately.

Cllr Keleigh Glenton, responsible for community safety at Trafford Council gave this advice on toys that may be fake or don't have safety information.

"Legitimate manufacturers and importers of toys spend significant amounts of money on ensuring the correct safety standards and tests are applied to their products.

"If in doubt, buyers should check packaging firstly for the name and address of a manufacturer or importer based in the UK and secondly for CE / UKCA markings and safety instructions in clear English."

Last year, the government warned against counterfeit Labubu toys, which officers said highlighted the speed at which social media-driven trends can spread unsafe or fake products.