WASHINGTON (AVC News) — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning parents about fake and counterfeit squishy toys and reminding families not to heat or microwave the popular toys because of the risk of serious burns.
The agency says counterfeit squishy toys may fail to meet federal safety standards and could contain hazardous chemicals, water beads or other materials that pose choking, ingestion or chemical exposure risks if the toys break open.
The warning also addresses a viral social media trend encouraging children and teens to microwave squishy toys. The CPSC says heated toys can burst, releasing hot filling material that may stick to the skin and cause severe burns.
Federal officials have stopped more than 355,000 noncompliant squishy toys from entering the United States after identifying 55 shipments at U.S. ports.
Consumers are urged to buy toys only from reputable retailers, avoid products with missing safety information or strong chemical odors, inspect toys regularly for damage, and keep them away from heat sources, including microwaves, hot vehicles and direct sunlight.
Anyone injured by a squishy toy or who identifies a potentially unsafe product is encouraged to report it through the CPSC’s SaferProducts.gov website.
Last Updated on August 6, 2026 by AVC News
