Warning after 5,900 counterfeit squishy toys seized by council

Nearly 6,000 counterfeit squishy toys have been seized from a warehouse in Glasgow by trading standards officers.

The items typically resemble a dumpling and come "blind packed" in a dim sum box - meaning you only discover what item you have bought when opening it.

They have soared in popularity thanks to social media videos showing the unboxings on Tik Tok and YouTube.

However this has sparked a rise in fake versions, which fail health and safety checks.

Among the dangers are that they contain substances which can cause skin irritation, nausea, headaches and breathing problems.

About 5,900 items were recovered from a warehouse on Commerce Street, near the Kingston bridge, on Thursday.

Glasgow City Council said the fakes posed "a serious danger" to anyone who used them.

The unsafe versions may contain substances such as phthalates, solvents and formaldehyde, and emit strong chemical odours, which can cause allergic reactions.

They also may present a choking hazard to younger children, and many do not specify any age warnings.

Products may fail to meet flammability standards and can split open, resulting in unknown contents spilling out and posing a further risk of harm.

Based on estimations from the government's Office for Product Safety & Standards, each toy would have cost approximately £71 in terms of the health and safety risks posed.

These risks would have included damage to property, businesses losing sales, consumers having to replace items and also spending time dealing with faulty products.

With around 5,900 toys seized, the city council estimated approximately £419,000 has been saved.

Councillor Laura Doherty, the city convener for Neighbourhood Services and Assets, said: "The items which have been recovered pose serious dangers to anyone using or playing with them.

"I would urge people when considering buying these popular toys to check that you are purchasing from a retailer you can trust and to check labels thoroughly."

People should look for information such as UKCA/CE marking, manufacturer details, age restrictions, safety warnings and instructions.

If any of these are not on the packaging, it is likely to be counterfeit.

Other warning signs include a strong or unusual smell, an extremely low price, being sold without any packaging, and no "do not eat" warnings for items that look like food.