PARENTS are being urged not to give children imitation versions of the viral “squishy dumpling” toy if they have a strong petrol-like smell or lack proper safety labelling.
The warning comes as the soft collectible toys have become one of the latest crazes among young children, fuelled by TikTok videos showing influencers “unboxing” the squishy dumplings from basket-shaped containers in the hope of finding rare glitter versions.
The trend has reached Jersey, with original dumplings made by RMS International repeatedly selling out at The Entertainer in St Helier.
Store manager Pawel Modzelewski said demand had surged after the toys went viral online.
“We have sold out. They are really popular. Every time we get them they just fly off the shelves,” he said.
Jersey Trading Standards is warning parents to be wary of counterfeit versions following concerns raised in the UK over potentially harmful chemicals.
In a statement, the department said: “We would strongly encourage parents to avoid giving children any ‘squishy dumpling’ toys or similar products that have a strong solvent or petrol-like smell, or that do not carry clear, compliant labelling.
“Parents and retailers should check for CE or UKCA marking and the presence of a traceable manufacturer or importer.”
It added that no complaints had been received locally but officers were “actively monitoring the situation” alongside UK authorities.
The warning follows the recall of Squeezy Dumplings, sold by Samsons Cash and Carry Ltd, after tests found excessive levels of benzene in the toy’s outer layer, posing what regulators described as a “serious chemical risk”. The product was also found to have inadequate safety labelling.
An official recall notice published by the Government of Jersey advises owners to stop using the toy immediately, keep it out of the reach of children and return it to the distributor for a refund.
A primary-school pupil from Jersey, who spoke to the JEP in the presence of their parent, unknowingly bought imitation dumplings from an Island retailer after seeing the craze online, and said they had a noticeable petrol-like smell.
The JEP bought three different imitation toys from local shops. One, branded “Schrunchems Dumpling” with One for Fun listed on the packaging, had the strongest solvent odour.
A spokesperson for One for Fun said the company was aware of counterfeit versions of its Scrunchems Sugar Dumpling toys.
They said fake products could often be identified by “a strong petrol-like smell” and packaging that did not feature the Tobar logo on the reverse.
However, the product purchased by the JEP carried did carry the Tobar logo. The company added that, in some cases, new-product odours could become trapped inside sealed packaging and appear stronger when first opened.
Similar concerns have prompted action elsewhere in the UK. Swansea Trading Standards identified volatile organic compounds, including ethylbenzene, styrene and xylene compounds, in imitation toys following complaints from parents, while Glasgow Trading Standards recently seized 6,000 counterfeit squishy toys from a warehouse.
