A number of children have been left hospitalised with burns
Parents have been warned about a popular children’s toy linked to a series of serious accidents leaving children with severe burns. Soft, squashy cubes filled with a gel liquid have become the toys of the summer with a wave of copycat versions circulating online and in stores.
Cheap products found across the country have been discovered to contain an array of toxic chemicals, including high levels of benzene, a substance known to be carcinogenic. Trading Standards officers are visiting shops to make sure dangerous examples are removed from sale.
Children have been putting the squashable plastic cubes into microwaves. Violet Zerbst became the latest victim of the trend after placing her toy in the microwave for 30 seconds.
After taking it out, she squeezed the toy, causing the heated contents to burst across her face and leaving her with severe burns and blisters. Violet said, “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 hearing his daughters scream as “quite horrific”. “I knew something had drastically gone wrong,” he said. “It’s a toffee like substance, it was scolding and sticky and it stuck to her face.”
“The skin sort of all peeled off and as it was in her mouth, she was trying to spit this stuff out.”
Violet said the incident left her in “a lot of pain” and felt as if her “skin (was) coming off”. She spent a week recovering in hospital and is now keen to raise awareness about the dangers of the toys and the social media challenges linked to them.
10-year-old Bella from Bristol, was also left with “traumatising” burns after heating a similar toy in a microwave. Bella’s mum Charlotte said, “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.”
Trading Standards has issued guidance urging parents to carefully check toys before purchasing. Officials say all toys should clearly display the name and address of a UK-based importer or an EU-based manufacturer, as well as carry either the mandatory “CE” or “UKCA” marking, which indicates compliance with safety legislation.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the situation and have warned parents to be aware of viral online challenges involving the toys, which could put children at serious risk of injury.
