Overview
- This week the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a consumer warning that fake and counterfeit squishy squeeze toys can cause serious injuries and may not meet federal safety rules.
- Officials warn that heating or leaving the toys in hot places can make them burst and spill hot gel or beads that stick to skin and cause severe burns.
- Some counterfeit toys contain water beads, gels, lead, phthalates, small parts, or unknown chemicals that can cause poisoning, choking, expansion-related intestinal blockages, or other injuries if swallowed or inhaled.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the CPSC identified 55 violative shipments and prevented roughly 355,683 suspect units from entering the country.
- The CPSC urges buying from reputable sellers, watching for low prices or poor packaging, stopping use of torn or sticky toys, keeping toys out of hot cars and direct sun, and seeking medical care for serious burns after cooling the wound under running water.