Staffordshire parents urged to check squishy toys

Parents and carers in Staffordshire are being urged to check children’s squishy toys after Trading Standards officers removed more than 100 potentially unsafe products from sale.

The seizure, reported on 11 August 2026, followed inspections at retailers in the Stafford area. Officers found products that did not comply with UK product safety requirements.

Families should look for UKCA or CE markings, check whether a toy is splitting or leaking and take particular care with unusually cheap products or toys bought from sellers whose legitimacy is unclear.

More than 100 toys removed from Stafford retailers

The affected products are soft, squeezable sensory toys often called “squidgys”. They have become increasingly popular with children and young people, with social media helping to drive interest.

Many are designed to resemble food, including doughnuts, dumplings and sweets. Staffordshire Trading Standards did not identify individual brands in the council’s warning, so families cannot rely on a brand list when checking toys already at home.

The council described the seized items as potentially unsafe and non-compliant. The action formed part of continuing work to stop products that do not meet relevant safety legislation from reaching shoppers.

Skin, choking and heating hazards identified

Officials said harmful substances in some products may cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, nausea or headaches. These are potential risks identified in the council’s notice, rather than confirmation that every squishy toy presents the same hazard.

A damaged toy may create an additional risk if it splits or leaks. Small pieces or escaped material can become a choking hazard, particularly for children.

The council also warned of burns or other injuries when the toys are heated contrary to their safety instructions. Parents should therefore check any instructions supplied with the product and ensure children do not heat it in a microwave, oven or by another method unless its directions explicitly permit that use.

Which squidgys families should examine

Checks should focus on soft sensory toys shaped like food or other novelty items, especially products bought cheaply or from unfamiliar sellers. A missing UKCA or CE mark is another reason to question whether a product meets the expected requirements.

Parents and carers can also inspect the toy itself and its packaging for:

• splits, punctures or leaking material;
• missing or unclear safety instructions;
• absent UKCA or CE markings;
• damage that could release small pieces;
• signs that the product has been heated against its instructions.

The council has not issued a blanket warning against all squishy toys. Its advice is to buy from reputable retailers and approach unusually cheap products cautiously.

What parents can do if a toy appears unsafe

A child should not continue playing with a toy that has split, leaked or developed loose pieces. Parents can retain the packaging and purchase details when raising a concern, as these may help identify the retailer, importer or supplier involved.

Further squidgy-toy safety advice is available from the Child Accident Prevention Trust. Concerns about a product sold in Staffordshire can be submitted through the Trading Standards Report It webpage or reported by calling 01785 330356.

Sellers remain responsible for product compliance

Staffordshire County Council said its officers are working with retailers, importers and suppliers on their legal responsibility to ensure products placed on the UK market comply with relevant safety legislation.

Anthony Screen, the council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Resilience, said families should purchase toys only from reputable retailers, check for UKCA or CE markings and be wary of unusually cheap goods. He added that counterfeit and non-compliant sales can undermine legitimate local businesses and may be connected with wider illegal trading networks.

Source: Staffordshire County Council Newsroom