More dangerous squishy toys seized despite recall

More children's toys that were deemed unsafe have been found at a car boot sale in East Yorkshire.

A number of the items, branded Squeezy Dumplings, contain a cancer-causing chemical and were seized by Trading Standards officers in Bridlington on 2 July.

Officers also discovered a number of counterfeit Labubu dolls, Needoh products, fake high-end perfumes and Apple-branded items.

Angela Parry, director of Strawberry Fields Events Ltd, which runs the car boot sale, said: "We take matters like this seriously and will continue to work with Trading Standards whenever needed."

She added: "We had already posted a warning on our own Facebook page about the affected squishy toys, alerting customers and asking sellers not to bring them onto the site.

"We do not want counterfeit or unsafe goods being sold [at our events]."

More than 1,000 similar items were seized from shops in Hull in July.

The seizures at Bridlington also followed a national recall for the squishy toys, which was issued by the government earlier this month.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards said the items presented a "serious chemical risk" after they were found to contain Benzene, which can cause cancer.

The chemical can also cause irritation to skin, eyes, nose and throat as well as a burning feeling if it is ingested.

Councillor Lyn Healing, East Riding of Yorkshire Council's cabinet member for communities and public protection, said: "Consumers have a right to expect that the products they buy are safe and genuine.

"Counterfeit and unsafe goods can present significant risks, particularly when they are aimed at children."

The council said Trading Standards officers would be carrying out further inspections at car boot sales, markets and other retail outlets across the region.

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