Parents are being cautioned about a popular children’s toy that has been associated with a string of severe accidents resulting in children sustaining serious burns. These soft, squishy cubes filled with a gel liquid have gained popularity as summer toys, leading to a proliferation of imitation versions being sold online and in stores.
Numerous inexpensive products found nationwide have been found to contain various toxic chemicals, including significant levels of benzene, a known carcinogen. Authorities from Trading Standards are actively visiting retail outlets to ensure that hazardous examples are promptly removed from circulation.
Children have been placing these pliable plastic cubes in microwaves, with Violet Zerbst being the most recent victim of this trend after microwaving her toy for 30 seconds. Upon removing it, she squeezed the toy, causing the heated contents to erupt onto her face, resulting in severe burns and blisters. Recounting the incident, Violet expressed, “I squished it for like three seconds, and then it went into a ball and exploded on my face. The liquid was at the bottom and then it went into a sort of ball and it burst onto my face.”
Her father described the distressing sound of his daughter’s scream as “quite horrific.” He stated, “I knew something had drastically gone wrong. It’s a toffee-like substance, it was scalding and sticky and it stuck to her face.” He further mentioned, “The skin sort of all peeled off and as it was in her mouth, she was trying to spit this stuff out.”
Violet described the aftermath as causing her “a lot of pain” and feeling like her “skin (was) coming off.” Following a week of recovery in the hospital, she is now determined to raise awareness about the hazards posed by these toys and the associated social media challenges.
Similarly, 10-year-old Bella from Bristol suffered “traumatising” burns after microwaving a similar toy. Bella’s mother, Charlotte, explained, “Because of the silicone outer layer, they couldn’t feel how hot it was inside, so her friend squeezed it, which is when it burst on to both of them. She was in absolute tears.”
In response to these incidents, Trading Standards has issued guidelines advising parents to meticulously inspect toys before purchase. Officials emphasize that all toys should prominently display the name and address of a UK-based importer or an EU-based manufacturer, as well as bear either the mandatory “CE” or “UKCA” marking to signify compliance with safety regulations.
Authorities are actively investigating the matter and have cautioned parents to remain vigilant regarding viral online challenges associated with these toys, which could pose serious risks of injury to children.
