The squishy toy craze that has kids hooked is giving Pittsburgh poison specialists a serious headache. The Pittsburgh Poison Center says it has seen a surge in calls this year about popular gel-filled “squishy” toys that leak, burst or fall apart, and local doctors are urging parents to treat the problem as more than just a messy nuisance. When these toys are heated or left in hot vehicles, they can rupture and spray hot or irritating gel, which can lead to burns and eye irritation for children.
Since the beginning of the year, the Pittsburgh Poison Center has received more than 180 calls about leaking or broken squishy toys, according to WPXI. The station detailed an incident in which a Pittsburgh grandmother said a dumpling-style squishy burst, spilling its contents onto her 4-year-old grandson and prompting a trip to the ER, the child was later cleared. Leaders at the Pittsburgh Poison Center warn that heating or microwaving these toys can significantly increase the chance of burns and irritation to skin and eyes.
U.K. Recall Flagged Chemical Hazard
Across the Atlantic, British regulators last month recalled a counterfeit batch of “Squeezy Dumplings” after tests found the toys' outer layer contained benzene at 20 mg/kg, which is above the U.K. legal limit, according to GOV.UK. The Office for Product Safety and Standards classified the benzene concentration as a serious hazard and advised anyone who owns the recalled toys to stop using them immediately.
U.S. Incident Reports And Complaints
In the United States, parents have filed complaints about leaking and burst squishies in the Consumer Product Safety Commission's SaferProducts.gov database. One Feb. 22 report describes a gel-filled NeeDoh-style toy that ruptured and left a 12-year-old with a burning sensation and skin discoloration, according to SaferProducts.gov. Those entries are not the same as a formal recall, but they have drawn closer scrutiny from consumer groups and poison centers that are tracking injuries tied to these products.
Poison Centers Report A Summer Spike
The pattern is not limited to Pittsburgh. The Washington Poison Center told local media it had handled 103 calls this year about NeeDoh and similar toys, a sharp rise from prior years, as reported by Axios. State poison centers in West Virginia and Kentucky have also reported increases and warned families never to microwave or otherwise heat the toys because doing so can cause them to burst and spray hot gel, according to reporting from WSAZ.
How Parents Can Respond
Experts advise throwing out any squishy toy that is cracked, sticky, gives off a strong chemical odor or lacks clear manufacturer labeling, and recommend buying sensory toys from reputable retailers that provide age guidance and safety information, per consumer guidance from Which?. If a child's skin or eyes are exposed to the filling, adults should rinse the area with plain water and call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 for immediate medical guidance, according to America's Poison Centers.
Pittsburgh parents who are unsure whether a toy in their home is the type involved in recent incidents can call the Pittsburgh Poison Center or the national Poison Help line for advice and next steps. Regulators say they will continue to monitor lab results and consumer complaints as they decide whether additional recalls or safety warnings are needed.
