FDA sounds alarm over illicit sale of squishy toys (First of two parts)

MANILA, Philippines —  “Squishy, bili ka?”

This is how Elisse Reyes (not her real name) greets her classmates at a university in Manila before their 10 a.m. class.

For the past three months, Elisse has been selling squishy – a soft, squeezable, colorful toy often made of synthetic materials, for P80 apiece.

They come in different shapes and colors. One is in the form of a xiao long bao with cute dotted eyes and a smile, stored in a bamboo steamer-like plastic container. It’s one of the most popular variants.

Another comes in the form of yellow butter. Others are in the shape of animals like cows. Some are shaped like soap bars and fruits.

“I used to get them for P850 a dozen,” Elisse told The STAR.

She got the idea of selling squishy from her supplier of body fragrances, lotion and eyelashes.

Squishies are popular among Gen Z like her. Social media, particularly TikTok, has been flooded with content about squishy. There’s now what they call “squishy haul,” the act of hoarding cute squishy toys and showing them off.

But in the past weeks, Elisse has observed changes in her supplier. Slowly, one by one, certain variants are being phased out. The first to go were the most popular ones: the green and blue xiao long baos.

“My supplier was not selling them anymore. They did not give any reason at all,” she said.

The reason came a few days later – in the form of an advisory from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the country’s regulator on toys and childcare articles.

The FDA has begun cracking down on illegally sold squishy toys that could pose harm to human health, particularly to children, following reports that they could contain toxic materials.

“I did not know that they could be harmful. What I recall is that those squishy, the xiao long bao ones, had an awful smell compared to the next batches of squishy I got,” Elisse said. “They reek of chemicals.”

Elisse admitted that she would not have sold the squishy toys if she was aware they were unregistered and posed safety risks. She did not know where her supplier got the squishy stocks.

“I won’t put my classmates at risk,” she said. “Good thing I stopped selling them already.”

In a notice on Oct. 28, the FDA advised consumers to be vigilant against unauthorized squishy toys being sold in the market, urging them to “carefully inspect” the items before purchasing and using the products.

Some of the warning signs that consumers should be aware of are strong chemical, petroleum, solvent or unusual fragrance odor; unusually oily or sticky surface; leakages; holes, tears and punctures; easy tearing or separation; discoloration and other signs of deterioration, according to the FDA.

“Consumers should also be cautious of products with incomplete or missing manufacturer or importer information, inadequate safety labeling or age grading, unprofessional packaging, unidentified sellers or suspiciously low prices,” the regulator said.

“Importantly, parents and caregivers should choose toys appropriate for the child’s age and abilities and provide appropriate adult supervision,” it added.

The FDA explained that safety authorities in other countries have already raised concerns regarding certain squishy toys that could contain or release potentially hazardous substances.

In June, the United Kingdom’s Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) issued a product recall for one type of squishy after it found out that it posed “serious” chemical risk because its outer layer contained “excess concentration of benzene.”

“If inhaled, benzene can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. Exposure to large amounts may also cause a burning feeling throughout the digestive tract and skin irritation,” according to the UK’s OPSS.

In August, the United States’ Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) also warned consumers about fake squishy toys that could be choking hazards due to their materials. The American agency explained that some squishy toys contain water beads or other gels, liquids, powders or sand.

“If the outer covering tears or bursts, children may be exposed to the contents,” the US CPSC said.

“Water beads can expand after being swallowed and cause intestinal blockages, choking, aspiration or injuries when inserted into the nose or ear. Other unknown filling materials may present chemical exposure, inhalation or ingestion hazards,” it added.

Meanwhile, Malaysia seized 5,801 squishy toys for failing to display the required Safety Compliance Mark, according to a report by The Straits Times last Oct. 25.

In its most recent advisory, the FDA reminded consumers “to observe the proper use of squishy toys and exercise care and diligence in selecting toys for use by children.”

The FDA issued two separate advisories in September to inform the general public not to purchase and use two unauthorized squishy toys: squishy delicious blue and squishy delicious green, both were made in China based on photos issued by the agency.

The FDA emphasized that the products have not gone through proper notification process with the agency, thus, it cannot assure their quality and safety.

BAN Toxics, a watchdog group, commended the FDA for issuing public health advisories regarding the sale of unauthorized squishy toys in the market.

The group also welcomed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ issuance of an order prohibiting the use of benzene in toys and other children’s products.

“We laud the FDA and the DENR for their regulatory actions against unauthorized toys that may contain chemicals that pose risks to a child’s health and development,” said Thony Dizon, Advocacy and Campaign Officer of BAN Toxics.

“It is high time for government agencies to enforce the law and immediately recall and remove the products from the market,” Dizon added.

BAN Toxics pointed out that all toys and games sold in the country must comply with applicable safety labeling and marking requirements under Philippine National Standards for toy safety based on Republic Act 10602 or the Toy and Game Safety Labeling Act.

Andrea Cruz, a classmate of Elisse, was surprised to learn of the hazards that squishy could pose to one’s health. Cruz first encountered squishy during a quick run to Divisoria during their term break last July.

Eventually she bought squishy from Elisse when the classes started in August. She bought what was called “crunchy peanut squishy” as it was shaped as an unroasted peanut and contained beads giving a crackling effect when squeezed.

“I would not throw this away because it is fun and entertaining. I’ll just clean it from time to time,” Cruz said. “I always disinfect a squishy every time I buy a new one.”

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