Squishy toys are safe for children despite strong chemical smell, Dutch watchdog says

The popular squishy dumplings, small toys from China made partly of foam that can be squeezed, are not dangerous for children to play with, according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). The agency investigated the small foam toys after receiving questions and complaints about the chemical smell given off by some squishies.

Some squishies have a strong chemical odor because volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released as the material evaporates, the NVWA said. The agency noted that even very small amounts of these substances can be detected by smell, which it described as similar to gasoline or white spirit.

The NVWA tested 19 different squishies in a laboratory and found only small amounts of the substances. The agency stated that it is safe for a child to sleep in a room with several of the toys nearby. The substances also evaporate relatively quickly, the NVWA said.

The NVWA refers consumers to the website waarzitwatin.nl to find out what products are made of. “Anyone who has squishies at home and is concerned can follow the advice on waarzitwatin.nl and let the products air out in a well-ventilated room,” the food safety authority said.

Several stores in Belgium and the Netherlands stopped selling the toys in July, according to various media reports. At the time, Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws reported concerns about potentially carcinogenic substances in the toys.

In the United Kingdom, counterfeit squishies were also recalled after elevated levels of certain substances were found. UK authorities later warned parents to pay close attention to which products they buy.