Warning issued after counterfeit toys seized in Oxfordshire
Trading Standards found fruit shaped squishy stress relievers and squeeze balls were missing vital labelling information
Last updated 29th Jul 2026
People are being warned about the risks of buying and selling counterfeit toys after Trading Standards teams seized a number of fake items during a recent inspection.
Officers found fruit shaped squishy stress relievers and squeeze balls that were missing vital labelling information. Products marketed as NeeDoh Nice Cubes were also seized as counterfeit copies of the popular toy.
The seized toys were not labelled with the details of a UK manufacturer or importer.
Davina Walkin, Oxfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards Operations Manager, said: “Toys that are untraceable, with no UK manufacturer or importer details, mean there is no one to take legal responsibility for the product.
“These items often bypass mandatory safety testing and have been found to contain dangerous substances such as phthalates and benzene. If a toy cannot be traced back to a responsible UK business, it should not be on sale.
“We are reminding retailers that they must carry out proper checks on the products they stock and make sure toys have the correct markings, warnings and manufacturer or importer details.”
Councillor Kate Gregory, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Inequalities, said: “It can be really easy as a parent to be drawn into buying a bargain toy for our children, especially as we try to keep up with the latest trends. But sometimes these can be too good to be true. Fake toys can lack important safety features and information that are required by law and, in some cases, could be harmful.
“We would urge parents and carers to check toys carefully before buying, particularly from unfamiliar sellers or online marketplaces, and to report anything they are worried about so our trading standards team can investigate.”