Unsafe squidgy toys seized in Staffordshire by Trading Standards
Non-compliant sensory toys removed from sale to protect shoppers
Over 100 potentially unsafe squidgy toys have been removed from sale in Staffordshire as part of ongoing efforts to protect consumers.
These soft, squeezable sensory toys, popularly known as 'squidgys' and often resembling food items like doughnuts and sweets, have gained favour among children and young people through social media.
However, concerns have arisen around their compliance with UK product safety standards.
Trading Standards officers from Staffordshire County Council identified non-compliant toys at retailers in the Stafford area, leading to their seizure and removal from store shelves.
The toys are associated with various safety risks, particularly for children.
This includes potential skin irritation, allergic reactions, nausea, headaches linked to harmful substances, and choking hazards caused by product defects.
Additionally, if heated, these toys can pose risks of burns or injuries.
Anthony Screen, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Resilience at Staffordshire County Council, stressed the importance of purchasing toys from reputable retailers.
"Buying from legitimate businesses not only helps protect children from potentially unsafe products, but it also helps ensure that money is not being channelled into illegal trading networks. The sale of counterfeit and non-compliant goods can be linked to wider criminal activity," Screen said.
Officers are collaborating with retailers, importers, and suppliers to ensure that products released into the UK market adhere to safety legislation.
This initiative is in alignment with Staffordshire County Council's Community Safety Strategy, aiming to foster safer and more robust communities.
Parents seeking advice on the safety of squidgy toys can visit the Child Accident Prevention Trust website.
Concerns regarding unsafe products can be reported online on the Trading Standards Report It webpage or by calling 01785 330356.