Warning after almost 6,000 counterfeit 'squishy' toys seized in Glasgow

Trading standards officers have seized more than 5,900 counterfeit "squishy" viral TikTok toys in Glasgow.

The soft and squeezable toys, which tend to resemble a dumpling and come in a dim sum box, are typically made from polyurethane foam or gel materials.

Glasgow City Council said their rising popularity - driven by social media clips - has seen an increase in counterfeit, incorrectly labelled products which have not passed health and safety regulations.

Trading standards officers have warned that such versions may contain substances such as formaldehyde, solvents and phthalates and may emit strong chemical smells.

Safety risks include nausea, headaches, skin irritation and breathing problems.

The toys could also present a choking hazard to younger children, could fail to meet flammability standards, and could split open, resulting in the unknown contents spilling out and posing further risk of harm.

More than 5,900 counterfeit squishies were seized from a warehouse in the Tradeston area of the city on Thursday.

Councillor Laura Doherty, 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."

The council said that, based on estimations from the government's office for product safety and standards, each toy would have cost around £71 in terms of health and safety risks posed, businesses losing sales, damage to property, consumers having to replace items and time spent dealing with faulty products.

Ms Doherty added: "This intervention prevented over £400,000 worth of harm to consumers and businesses.

"Trading standards will continue to monitor the supply and distribution of counterfeit goods through targeted inspections and enforcement activity, particularly within lower-cost retail sectors and non-traditional supply chains."

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The local authority urged people to check whether a product is genuine by looking for information such as UKCA/CE marking, age restrictions, safety warnings and instructions and manufacturer details.

It said that if any of these are not on the packaging, the toy is likely to be counterfeit and unsafe.

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

(c) Sky News 2026: Warning after almost 6,000 counterfeit 'squishy' toys seized in Glasgow